Handing him the bowls, he splits the chips, passes me one, unscrews the salsa, and scoops a spoonful on the side of his bowl before giving it back to me.
“Want to watch a film?”
I nod to the cabinet holding my film collection. “Unless it's one of those ten DVDs, it will need to be whatever’s on TV,” I reply, adding salsa to my bowl and placing the jar on the coffee table.
“No need. Is that a Smart TV?”
“No idea. I’m technically challenged when it comes to appliances and… everything. It's why I made Char move in with me.”
He throws his head back and laughs as I nibble on a chip. Pulling out his phone, he does something and then picks up the remote, flicking the channel.
“There you go. I added my Prime and Netflix accounts. Now we can Netflix and chill.”
For some reason my lower stomach pulses from the innuendo but I ignore it instead.
“In your dreams.”
He winks. “You know it, Tink.”
ChapterEleven
NATHAN
She’s looking at me like I’ve just grown two heads, not that I can blame her, but whatever, she’s kind of stuck with me, at least until the baby shower anyway.
“So, what will it be?” I ask, scrolling through movies on Prime while stuffing tortilla chips into my mouth.
“Oh, is that the new Fast and Furious?”
I almost choke, clearly not expecting her to know that movie. “Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat. “You want to watch it?”
She smiles and nods her head, and I think it’s the first time I’ve seen her genuinely smile like that.
“Then your wish is my command.”
She unscrews the lid of the wine and pours almost half into the glass.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she says, moving to her feet and taking the bottle to the fridge. “I’ve had a shit day.”
I hold up my hands. “Never said a word.” My eyes scan over the space. The only thing separating the living room is a small dining table and a kitchen island. It's cosy.
Unzipping my hoody, I slip it off and sling it over the arm of the couch.
She sits beside me and pulls her legs up underneath her. I wish I could say I hadn’t noticed her nipples through her top or the bra haphazardly lying in her hallway. None of my business, of course. I just have to remind myself to keep my eyes above her chest.
Maybe it was pretentious just showing up. I mean, I’m leaning more to the side of friends now than frenemies.
“If you’d rather be alone, I can piss off,” I say, hooking my thumb over my shoulder.
Violet shakes her head. “No, don’t be daft,” she says, her eyes flicking to the remote. “Press play.”
I have to say watching a film with Violet is an experience. Not only does she fidget, but she’s also vocal and expressive. I particularly love how she was asking me questions about it when I was as in the dark as she was. But I also have a knack for working out plot twists.
What can I say? I’m gifted.
When I glance over, I notice her wiping under her eyes, not that I can blame her, even I got choked up. They really fucked you up with the music at the end of that one, plus the dedication to Paul Walker. I bet there wasn’t a dry eye in the entire cinema when it was released.
I reach over and squeeze her knee.
