She smiles and gives a small wave to an elderly couple walking by. “Sure.”
“I wanted to go to an older movie, but it’s February, the month of love, so that means most movie theaters are playing romances. I found this one and they’re showing ‘bad boys and good girls’ films. I couldn’t pass it up. They’re both Reese Witherspoon movies, so we have—”
“Oh, I like this already. I get to eat all the salt I want without feeling bad and then I get rom-coms? Best da—” She stops short. “Night ever.”
“Just wait until you hear the movies. Cruel Intentions and Fear.”
She chuckles. “Would you classify Fear as a romance?”
Other than knowing Mark Wahlberg is in it, I’ve never seen it. “I guess we’ll discuss after.”
“Why did you pick old movies?” she asks.
“I wanted to go somewhere with you where we wouldn’t be interrupted. Even if I can’t talk to you, at least I’m not sharing you.”
She stops walking on the sidewalk and looks at the ground. “Aiden…” There are tears in her eyes when she looks up.
“Don’t make a big deal of it. Remember, I don’t have a lot of friends.” I grab her hand and tug her forward.
“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“It shouldn’t be. Jeremy should’ve put you on a pedestal. Dumbass didn’t, I guess.”
The movie theater is across the street, so I lead her over to get our tickets before I embarrass myself further. Inside, we opt for no more food since we just finished dinner.
I let Saige pick our seats and she heads right to the middle, her decision speaking volumes about this being a platonic experience. If I don’t shut my mouth soon, she’s going to stop hanging out with me and I don’t know if I could handle that right now. If the choice is for us to be friends or nothing, I’ll pick friends.
There aren’t a lot of other people in the theater and the ones who are here seem more into each other than what’s playing on the screen. The lights dim and I slide down in my seat, spreading my knees wide and crossing my arms so I don’t try to get handsy with Saige.
Fear comes on first and we sit through the movie, not saying much. She jumps a few times when Mark Wahlberg’s character gives us a scare. I get what she’s saying about this not being romantic.
“I’m gonna get a snack, want one?” I ask her.
“Anything chocolate,” she whispers.
“Okay, I’ll be back.”
Leaving the theater, I exhale a deep breath. Being so close to her and not being able to touch her in any way is torture. I need to control these feelings. A good beat-off job tonight should suffice. For a little while anyway.
I leave the concession stand with Twizzlers and Peanut M&M’s. I hope she’s not allergic to peanuts. Surely I’d know that by now, right?
“Excuse me, Mr. Drake?” The guy who helped me at the concession stand stops me before I can leave. I knew he was overly nice to me.
“Yeah?”
“Could I get an autograph?” He holds out a napkin and pen.
“Sure.” I set down the candy and scribble my signature.
“Thanks. I’ll be at the game tomorrow night.”
“Rooting for the home team?” I ask with a smile.
He nods enthusiastically. “Yeah.”
“Good for you, but I hate to tell you… you might be disappointed tomorrow night.”
He laughs and looks down the hall, then gets me a tub of popcorn. “On the house.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“You’re, like, the only celebrity we’ve ever had in here. You’re lucky the manager hasn’t taken your picture to post in the lobby.”
We both laugh and I walk away with a free popcorn and my candy.
The next movie is already starting by the time I rejoin Saige. I hand her the Peanut M&M’s and she smiles, so I guess no nut allergy.
She eyes my popcorn and I hold it out to her. “Free popcorn. Another perk.”
She laughs and a couple in the back row shh us. Not sure why—when I passed them, they were getting a helluva lot more action than I am.
We watch Cruel Intentions and if I thought the sex scenes in Fear were bad, this is downright blue ball material. The fact that I won’t be getting any when I head back to the hotel is forefront in my mind after watching this.
The movie ends and I swear I deserve some sort of medal for not even putting my arm on the back of her chair. We follow the other guests out of the theater and it’s then I see a crowd of people outside. I cup Saige’s elbow and pull her back into the theater, down the aisle, and out the door that says Exit. The door slams shut behind us and we’re left in an alley.
“I guess that whole ‘alarm will sound’ thing is a joke,” she says.
I put my finger over my lips and take her hand, escorting her up the alley to the front of the theater. I peek around the corner, and as I assumed, it’s the fucking paps and a bunch of women, a few men scattered in. Saige looks and turns back to me with an open mouth and wide eyes. She pulls out her phone and hops on social media, then shows me that I was tagged at the movie theater by none other than the free popcorn guy. I should’ve just played the look-alike card.
I text the driver to meet me on the next corner over. Once he messages back that he’s waiting, I lead Saige down the sidewalk away from the theater. I usher her into the car and the paps just figure it out when I climb in and lock the doors.
“And that’s the con I was telling you about.” My lips are a thin line.
Saige looks out the back window of the car. “The women are running, screaming out to you, but I can’t hear them.”
“Just turn around,” I say.
She eventually does face forward after we turn the corner and lose the crowd.
“Man, I’ve never experienced something like that before.” She leans back. “What do you think would’ve happened if they got to us?”
“Well, first they would’ve tried to figure out who you are, then reports of us dating would hit the fan sites and they probably would’ve smeared your name. Oh yeah, and we’d have some explaining to do to Joran. Not that we’ve crossed any lines, but you know what I mean. It doesn’t look good.”
She stares out the window, not saying anything.
I touch her knee. “Sorry I spoiled the mood.”
What I keep to myself is that I’m bothered she can’t be mine. I’m pissed that I couldn’t take her hand and walk out of that theater with her, proud to say she’s my girl. And it’s not only because she’s with Joran, but also the fact that she’d be ridiculed by the female fans. They’ll point out everything they perceive as a flaw as though they’re perfect specimens. I’ve seen it time and time again. I don’t even want to think of what male fans might say. I have no idea if that’s something she’s willing to put herself through, but considering that she hated the way she was constantly criticized while skating, I can’t imagine she’d want to endure public scrutiny.
The driver stops in front of the hotel entrance, and we file out of the car and into the lobby. Without stopping, we go straight to the elevator and I ask her if she wants to come to my room for a nightcap.