When the camera pans to all the daughters, my jaw drops.
“I’m glad I only have Caleb; I couldn’t imagine that. Five daughters? Yikes.”
Stevie throws a piece of popcorn at me. “Shh!”
“What? I’m only saying I can relate to him. That’s a lot of kids.”
“It was more common then. Now shush.”
Stevie quiets me by turning the volume up. I smile as I pull the blanket over us and cozy up into the couch.
“This is my favorite part. Watch.”
Stevie turns up the volume, cuddling farther into my side. I squeeze her close, letting her sweet perfume wash over me.
“Wasn’t that great?” she sighs.
“They didn’t say anything.”
“You missed it?” She sounds affronted. “How could you miss it?”
“You can’t turn the volume up and expect me to see something. I was listening.”
“Watch,” Stevie goads me as she turns back to the TV. “Watch his hand.”
It’s a flex after he helps her into the carriage. It’s the most subtle of moves. Blink and you miss it. Stevie pauses it and turns to me.
“It’s my favorite part of the movie. He loves her so much, even the briefest of touches is too much.”
I can easily say I know the feeling—the overwhelming awareness of being so in love with someone that you have no idea how to handle it.
This movie is hitting a little too close to home for me. I can relate to everything this Darcy fellow is going through.
“So this Darcy guy…he’s already in love with her?”
Stevie nods and starts the movie again. “Yes. Can’t you tell? He conveys so much love with just one gesture.”
“Will they end up together?”
She smacks me in the chest. “I can’t tell you that. You need to watch.”
I smile at her before pulling her into my side. My fingers rub up and down her sweatshirt-clad shoulder.
As the movie goes on, I find I’m more and more invested. This poor schmuck is so in love with Elizabeth. Is he going to tell her? I don’t know if I could stand it to think of these two not being in love.
“You have bewitched me, body and soul.”
Damn. I guess when Darcy figures shit out, he goes for it. Maybe I could take a page from his playbook.
“Yes! C’mon. Say yes, Elizabeth.” I rub my hands together, leaning toward the screen. “How could anyone possibly say no to that confession?”
“Watch.” Stevie shushes me once again, but when they kiss, I can’t help the emotions that take over.
Tears wet my eyes as they ride off into the sunset.
“Fuck. That was good.”
Stevie shuts it off and turns to face me.
