But I needed to know more.
He looked flustered, one hand still gripped in a fist against the edge of the table. I wondered if he felt it, too—that inexorable draw between us, a cord knotted from one heart to the other.
“Not much to say, really. You already know I’m from Iowa. I studied at Iowa State in middle and high school—they have a great music program, and I was really lucky to be allowed to get involved so young. Ummm…let’s see, what else? I grew up in Boone. It’s this tiny place outside of Des Moines. Like, imagine small town but with the worst people you can think of. Unavoidable assholes.”
I gave an exaggerated shudder. “Oh, come on. That bad?”
“Okay, maybe I’m being a little unfair. They weren’tallassholes. But there were a lot. My brother’s gay. People are pretty shitty to him about it.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “That must have been hard. What about your parents? Are they cool?”
“They’re divorced,” Jamie said with a loose shrug. “My mom’s great. My dad…I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
I couldn’t imagine what that would be like. My mother might be sick, but at least she washere.
“Anyway, I swear my life is not just tragedies,” Jamie said, laughing a little.
I gave him a look. “Yeah? Prove it.”
“Okay. I did boxing in high school and won more than half my fights. I got to beta test the sequel to my favorite video game. I love my brother. I was an introvert, but I had friends growing up. My best friend’s family and I would go on trips to Clear Lake together—his parents had a house up there. I tried to learn how to slalom water-ski and wiped out pretty much every time.”
“I like that visual.”
He smirked. “I bet you do.”
Of course then I was also picturing Jamie soaking wet, hair plastered to his forehead in some tight-fitting spandex wet suit.Stopppppp.
“Your turn,” he said. “Life story. Let’s hear it.”
Shit.I really didn’t think this one through, huh? Now I had to make myself sound interesting, which I very definitely was not.
“Um. Okay. Well, I’ve pretty much been doing piano my whole life. I don’t have any fun hobbies, and I don’t know how to water-ski.”
“So what do you do when you aren’t playing piano?”
I literally had to think about it. That’s how pathetic it all was. “Read, I guess. Watch shitty TV with Cessy. Hang out with my dad.”
“Reading and TV are hobbies.”
“I mean…if you say so.” I wasn’t sure that watchingLove Islandqualified. “But like I said, it’s not like…peak cinema. I still haven’t seenFight Club.”
“You haven’t seenFight Club? Are you fucking serious right now?”
“Yeah. It’s not like I don’t know the twist. So what’s the point?”
“What’s the point,” Jamie echoed, shaking his head in disbelief. “The point is that it’s a great film. The point is that it’sfun.Seriously, Marigold. That’s so sad.”
“I told you I don’t have fun hobbies!”
“Well, not for long,” he declared. “You’re watching it. We’ll watch it together. Even if it has to be on my ancient 2012 laptop. I’m not letting you continue to muddle your way through life without watching fuckingFight Club.”
I laughed. “Yeah, fine. You provide the popcorn, though.”
Jamie wanted me to watchFight Clubwith him.Jamie wantedme to watchFight Clubwith him.On his laptop. Did that mean, like…in his dorm room?
On his bed?
I could tell I was blushing again from the way my cheeks suddenly felt over-hot, like I’d caught a fever. I ducked my head to take another sip of water through my straw, hoping it hid me somewhat. But when I looked up again, Jamie was staring at me, those gorgeous dark blue eyes fixed on my lips.
