Grayson’s brother looked to be about nineteen, but standing next to Grayson, with Grayson’s height and width, he seemed even younger still. Even so, there was a strong family resemblance and Lorelai wondered if Grayson had ever been this fresh-faced and innocent-looking.
‘And the costumes were…’ Joanie reached over and tugged at a corner of Grayson’s forest-green cloak.
‘My idea, of course,’ Grayson said.
‘Yes butmyhandiwork!’ Grayson’s brother interjected with a proud grin.
‘Sorry, I haven’t introduced you. This is Aden. My younger brother.’
‘I’m the handsome one,’ Aden declared.
‘You wish,’ Grayson said good-naturedly. ‘And be nice. Remember who bought the tickets.’
Lorelai laughed. ‘Nice to meet you, Aden. I’m—’
‘Lorelai, right?’ Aden interrupted. Grayson elbowed him in the side. ‘Oi! What was that for?’ Grayson glared at his brother, a blush creeping along his cheeks. ‘Oh. Sorry, Gray.’ Aden looked sheepish.
‘You’re a pain in the arse,’ Grayson said, trying to cover up his embarrassment. He caught Lorelai’s eye and that brief look sent a wave of emotion rippling through her.Get a grip,she scolded herself.
‘You’rethe pain in the arse,lover boy,’ Aden said.
Joanie snorted with laughter, amused to hear her name for Grayson come out of his brother’s mouth. Grayson quickly grabbed the ends of his brother’s cloak and pulled him into a headlock. Aden was half laughing, half yelling expletives while fighting for breath. Lorelai knew she should move them along; the line behind them was getting longer, but this display of brotherly play-fighting did something to Lorelai’s insides and she wasn’t ready to let that feeling go. She glanced up and saw that Riggs had begun to pay a keen interest in Grayson and Adenfrom his position at the doors, and he didn’t look happy. Finally, Grayson let Aden go.
‘You’re such a bastard!’ Aden growled. ‘It took me ages to get this wig perfect!’
‘Mate, no one in here is going to mistake you for the real Pippin so I wouldn’t worry too much.’ Grayson put his arm around his brother’s shoulders and ruffled the wig, messing it up further.
‘Are you not freezing?’ Lorelai asked, glancing down at their bare legs.
‘Nah, all the fake hair on these feet keeps my toes toasty.’ Grayson lifted a hobbit foot and wiggled it about.
‘OK, you two,’ Joanie said, waving her scoop, ‘serious question: sweet or salty?’
‘Salty,’ they both said in unison. Lorelai grimaced.
‘Are you judging my popcorn choices, Miss Lorelai?’ Grayson said, arching an eyebrow.
Her name on his lips…
‘Of course not. I mean, I think anyone who likes salty popcorn is a psychopath but no, no judgement.’ She arched an eyebrow right back at him.
‘Surely you don’t actually like sweet popcorn?’ Grayson asked.
‘And if I do?’
‘Then I might have to rethink this whole thing.’
‘And what “whole thing” would that be?’
The air was suddenly heavy around them. Lorelai knew that Joanie and Aden were probably exchanging a knowing look, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Grayson. Despite all of her misgivings, she couldn’t stop herself, and now things hadtaken a turn and this seemed like much more than an innocent conversation about popcorn. Grayson looked at her intently, his expression unreadable.
‘The “whole thing” that is me and you,’ Grayson said finally. ‘But I think you could bring me round to yoursweetways. If you wanted to. Away from here. Or somewhere else. Whatever you like. Just somewhere we can talk. Or not. You can’t really talk at the cinema, can you? Unless you don’t want to talk?’ He’d been so close to being somewhat suave but as soon as he began bumbling over his words, Lorelai suddenly found him even more attractive.
Aden groaned. ‘You aresocheesy. Where do you get this stuff from?! You have zero game.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Joanie said, her eyes dancing mischievously. ‘Lorelai’s game isn’t much better.’
They were all so preoccupied that none of them had noticed Riggs approach them.
