“You sure you’re not too tired or anything?” he asks.
“I’m sure, plus I’ll be sitting down so that helps.”
“I’ve already got the tickets, are you sure a horror movie won’t bring on labor?”
Laughing, it feels so good to have a conversation around the baby without wanting to punch the wall afterward.
“If I can’t handle a scary movie, I don’t think I’m going to be a good mom.”
“Point taken.”
We stand in line for popcorn and candy, and everything is so easy. It’s moments like this that prove Darius was right. Life with him would be hard. We couldn’t even be at the fair withouttrouble kicking off. But standing in line with William, no one even blinks our way. We’re no ones and that’s the way I like it.
I pay for the food as he paid for the tickets, and he carries the load while I carry our drinks.
“At least it’s not busy,” he says as we walk into the screen. “Where do you want to sit?”
“At the back, centre, obviously.”
Rolling his eyes, he laughs, “Obviously.”
We settle the food in the chair between us and discard our coats and settle in. I can’t remember the last time I was here.
“Did you finish the paper for Eccleston’s class?” he asks, digging his hand into the popcorn.
“I’ve just got to read it through, make a few changes and then I’m done.”
“I can’t wait to get home, it feels like forever since I had homecooked meals.”
“You should’ve said, I’d have invited you over.”
“I’ll hold you to that after the holidays.”
The door opens and in walks Jermaine. My heart drops and I forget how to fucking breathe. What the hell is he doing here? I thought Darius had stopped having me followed months ago.
I watch as he looks around the few people in their seats and then settle on me. He looks even more terrifying in the dimly lit room.
“Do you know that guy?” William asks quietly.
“Not exactly.” It’s the truth. I know who he is, but I don’t know anything about him.
“He seems to know you, he’s coming up.”
With every step he climbs toward us, my heart pounds just as heavy. He takes a seat at the end of the row and then one of Darius’s other boys, Rodrigo, comes in and sits at the other end of our row.
“Seriously, Amelia, do you know these guys? They’re gangbangers,” William whispers worriedly.
“They won’t do anything. It isn’t what you think.”
I pull out my phone at the same time it starts to ring. It’s Clare. I hit ignore and then the door opens and Darius walks in. He doesn’t look around for me, he comes straight up the steps and Jermaine moves his legs out of the way for him to pass.
He takes the seat next to me and slides his arm around my shoulders. He pulls me so close, my head rests against his.
“I guess you thought I was full of shit?” he murmurs quietly for only me to hear.
“This is how it’s going to go down, just so you know for future use. First, you’re going to get your coat on and say your goodbyes. Then I’m going to give Jermaine the nod to show this prick what the boundaries are when it comes to you.”
“Don’t do this, please.”
