What the hell was he on about? I didn’t pay enough attention at work or something? I rolled my eyes and got back to fixing stuff.
A few hours later at closing, he stopped by the store. “Hey, ladies.”
“Oh, are we talking again?” Ash teased, sorting phone cases.
“Yes,” he said, mock-offended, and set his juggle-sticks on the counter. “I was coming by to see if you two wanted to go to a movie after this.”
“Sure, what’s playing?” she asked.
I slunk down in my seat. Victor was working. I bet he’d be lurking over the balcony, judging us for every little thing like finding his girlfriend pretty or joking around when someone was in a relationship.
Sal checked his phone. “Janice wants to see Must Love Mimi at 9:30.”
Ash grimaced. “Actually, I’m beat.”
“What? You love Scarlet Jolie,” he insisted.
She rolled her eyes. “Just because she’s hot doesn’t mean I want to spend an hour and a half watching her fall in love with some guy.”
“I hear it has some great scenes. Plus, we haven’t been to the movies in weeks. Zero, what do you think?” He extended his hand to me.
Normally, I’d watch romcoms from the comfort of my home with a box of tissues and a bag of chips in front of me. But he raised his eyebrows ever-so-slightly, almost pleading.
What would I go home to if I said no? Nothing? No one? Another night harvesting in Craft Cove?
I doubted I’d be at True Tech long enough for an opportunity like this to present itself. Not that I wanted company. But an hour and a half of amicable quiet with this particular set of acquaintances would be proof I could do casual stuff with no alcohol or innuendos present. Victor would have to see us and realize we were good, that I was good, together or otherwise.
“It’s five-dollar Tuesdays,” I reasoned.
Sal grinned and slapped the counter. “See? She’s in. Come on, Ash. Make it a foursome.”
“Fine,” she relented.
Within fifteen minutes, we clocked out, went through security, then circled around to the theater.
“I’ll buy the tickets, and you can all pay me back. I have a membership,” I said, summoning the Westbrook Cineplex app.
Sal clapped my back. “Yes, Zero with the inside contact.” He straightened, then trotted to the entrance, where Janice waited for him. “Hey, babes. How’s birthday week been?” he asked.
His girlfriend talked with her hands almost as much as he did.
Ash crossed her arms and whispered, “Don’t make me sit next to her.”
“Okay.” No problem.
We joined the couple, and I showed our tickets to get us in.
Ash stuck to my side, forcing a smile and flattening her tone. “Hi, Janice.”
“Happy early birthday,” I added.
“Thank you. So glad you could join us,” she said, but her nose wrinkled more than her lips upturned in a smile. She turned to Sal. “Can we get some snacks?”
“Hell yeah. What’re you feeling?” He wrapped his arm around her and led her to the concession stand.
Ash sighed and stuck her hands in her pockets. “Do you want anything?”
“No.” I tugged my cap and scanned the area, including upstairs. I just didn’t want to linger here. The dented spiral staircase might as well have been a middle finger, a glitch permanently embedded in my brain, my heart, and my reputation. All the finer hairs on my body stood to attention.
