My first thought is eviscerating their soul. Instead, I glare at them and watch their face pale slightly.
“Sorry,” Juliet whispers before coming to stand next to me.
“Hi. I didn’t know you were coming to the movie night,” she says in her charming voice.
“Me either, but I’m glad to be here.”
She bites her lip and nods as we take a seat on the plush blanket.
“What would be most comfortable for your wings?” I ask, and I swear pink hearts sparkle in her eyes.
“I’ll be fine just sitting against the pillows.” Juliet looks me up and down, and I completely regret not getting changed before coming to this fucking movie. “Love was wrong about the robes.”
“What?”
She shakes her head and takes a seat, adjusting her wings so that they are tucked, but not getting smooshed. I sit next to her as the pink hazy sun of Cupidale slowly sets.
“It’s rather beautiful here,” I say sweetly.
Juliet turns to me and blinks. “It is. I like it here, but Purgatory was beautiful too.”
A few cupids are milling about with concessions, and Juliet makes some selections for us and places the drinks and snacks between us.
“These are called love potion number nine. You’ve got to be careful. They’re more prosecco and Grand Marnier than cranberry juice,” she says, handing me the drink and pointing at more snacks. “These are love in a jar. They’re my favorite. They have a bit of all the best desserts in one. These are Nerd Clusters. I don’t know if you have these in Purgatory, but they are the best candy to have ever been created. We have ones that are only red and pink Nerds here, because obviously. Oh, and this is?—”
“Can I kiss you?” I interrupt, loving the way she’s talking so animatedly about the things she likes here in Cupidale.
“Yes,” she whispers.
I remember her words about wanting to take it slow, and the unspoken things she’s skirted around being a new cupid. It’s clear she has some fears or worries about entering a relationship. I don’t let it show that she’s not the only one. WhileI want this so fucking bad, I’m also worried about completely messing it up.
I keep the kiss chaste as I cup her soft cheek and press my lips to hers. There’s no tongue or teeth, as much as I want that. Just this small affection to show I’ve been thinking about her and continually making my intentions clear.
Juliet licks her lips as we part and smiles.
Fuck, I’ll endure whatever movie they’re showing tonight a million times if I can always make her smile at me like that.
“I’m glad you could come tonight,” she says.
I push my dirty mind to the corner and take a sip of the drink she gave me. It’s overly sweet and I can’t control my face over the taste.
“I got tricked into drinking it too,” Death says loudly behind me. I do my best to ignore him.
“You and Death are close?” Juliet asks.
“Unfortunately. He’s my best friend and my direct supervisor.”
“He really seems to make Love happy.”
I lean back into the pillows and Juliet adjusts to get more comfortable as well. The sun has nearly set, and most cupids are comfortable in their seats as we wait for the movie to start.
“He does, but Love… she brought him back to life,” I whisper, and Juliet turns to me, her wing brushing slightly against my shoulder.
“Is that what you’re looking for?” she asks, and I swear there’s hope and desire written on her face. To the point I don’t know how to reply; I don’t know how to express what I want. That I’ve never experienced sincerely loving someone, or what it feels like to be loved more than just a friend. That I want to find someone I can not only cherish, but who finds solace within me. Words don’t feel like enough, and I’m about to open my mouth and spew my heart out when the movie starts.
The music starts as the title flashes on the screen.
10 Things I Hate About You.
