Did he just sorta, maybe, kinda admit I’d look good in my underwear? I mean, I didn’t imagine that, right? He did say—
“Charlie.” Levi snaps his fingers an inch from my face before returning his hand to the steering wheel.
Shaking my head, I ask, “Sorry…what were you saying?”
“I was asking if you’d be okay with me picking up a girl I met. She’s in one of my classes and is down here to visit family for the school break too. She texted when I was on my way to pick you up. I didn’t want to be rude or anything but….”
“But you want to hook up with her and figured tonight is as good of a time as any?”
The little fantasy I’d created in my head in the span of five seconds pops like a balloon with a pin.
An extra-pointy pin named reality.
Dammit.
The bastard has the sense to look sheepish. “I mean…if you’re not cool with it—”
“It’s fine,” I concede, though I don’t bother to hide my annoyance.
It’s not like we haven’t seen each other in almost a year or anything, and that I’ve missed hanging out with you more than anything on this planet. But sure, bring an easy lay along. Sounds juuust peachy.
I cross my arms and fume out the window.
“You sure you’re okay with it?” he prods.
Do I look okay with it? I want to shout. But I don’t. Because then he’d wonder why I wasn’t cool with having a front-row seat to his sexual escapades. Then that question would lead down an endless rabbit hole until he’d finally figure out his tomboy best friend––who he looks at like a little sister––wants to be his sexual escapades instead of some random girl in his college class. Which is ironic because I’ve never even been kissed. I’ve never wanted to be kissed. Unless Levi was the one to do the honors. But he’s too busy sticking his tongue down every other girl’s throat to ever finally notice me.
Damn, I’m pathetic.
“Charlie?”
“Yup. But you’re buying the popcorn. And I expect one large bowl to share instead of your usual anti-sharing technique. Oh! And I demand an extra squirt of butter.”
Nose wrinkling in disgust, he argues, “Come on, Charlie. You know how much I hate to share. And don’t even get me started on the fake butter they spray on there. You know that shit’s not good for you.”
“It is if you’re running six miles a day. And sharing is good for you. You should try it sometime.”
“Speaking of running,” he remarks, completely ignoring the sharing jab. “Your dad told my mom that you’ve gotten a couple of scholarship offers for softball.”
I groan. “Sometimes I hate how much our parents talk. And before you ask if I’m going, I already told you. College is a hard pass for me. I’m over school.”
“Which is why you’ll be stripping in a year.” His mouth tilts up in amusement, but he doesn’t bother to argue the subject anymore. We both know I’m as stubborn as the female population comes, and I won’t budge.
After picking up Mandy from the subway, we head to the Lincoln Square Loews Cinema and grab our tickets. All the good movies are sold out, so we’re stuck with some bank heist comedy. It doesn’t matter; I’ve got a giant tub of popcorn tucked on my lap and am officially a happy camper. Especially when Levi leans closer to grab a handful, munching happily on the extra buttered popcorn like a champ.
Did he notice the way our hands brushed against each other? Probably not.
Sitting back in his seat, Levi tosses his arm around his date.
There goes my moment of bliss, I grumble to myself. Gritting my teeth, I bring another kernel to my mouth while attempting to block out my best friend making a move on a skank in a jean miniskirt and heels.
I hate high heels.
Munching on a buttery piece that tastes more like sawdust than popcorn, I stare at the screen in front of me. Unfortunately, I only see a bunch of blurred colors smearing across the wall as my attention is elsewhere. Levi shifts next to me, and my eyes dart over to him before a thick wave of regret makes me drop the buttery kernel in my hand.
Seems I’ve lost my appetite.
Less than a foot away from me, Mandy’s tongue is practically being swallowed whole by the biggest manwhore I’ve ever met. It’s like a train wreck, and I can’t help but take another quick glance to my left. Yup. His hand is on her boob. Her gigantic watermelon boobs that put my lemons to shame.
I think I just threw up in my mouth.
I’m used to this kind of behavior. I hate it. But it isn’t exactly out of the ordinary, even though it pisses me off. Squeezing my eyes shut, I count to ten. Then I set the container of popcorn on the floor under my seat with the intention of hiding away in the bathroom. Unfortunately, my escape is thwarted when the make-out session is stalled with a hand to Levi’s chest.
“What is it?” I hear him whisper.
A bright light from a cell phone catches my attention before it’s swallowed by the darkness in the theater.
“Shit. It’s….” She clears her throat. “I need to take this. I’ll be back in a few.”
Shuffling out of the aisle, Mandy escapes down the tunnel and into the lobby, which leaves me alone. With Levi. After his mouth was on someone else less than a minute ago.
Yet, my entire body is still tingling from his presence beside me.
I seriously gotta let this crush go.
Even though there’s a movie dancing on the screen in front of us, it doesn’t stop the awkward tension from hanging over us like a heavy fog. I keep my attention straight ahead when a soft squeak a few rows back distracts me.
Turning around, my jaw drops until I’m sure I look like a gaping fish as I witness a couple getting hot and heavy in the back row. They’re completely oblivious to the world around them, caught up in their own little world. I feel like I’m intruding on their little…moment and scrunch low in my seat, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.
“You okay?” Levi murmurs beside me.
With the skills of Mr. Miyagi, my hand darts out and fists the neckline of his T-shirt before dragging him toward me.
“Will you be quiet?” I hiss.
“I am being quiet! Who are you hiding from?”
“I’m not hiding from anyone.”
His hand lands on my knee and squeezes, making me squirm.
“Liar,” he whispers. “You look like a cherry tomato, and you’re slouched in your seat like you’re on America’s Most Wanted.”
With a huff, I mumble, “Fine! There’s a couple in the back who are making your little tryst from a minute ago look like child’s play.”
His head pops up above the seats while I cringe at his not-so-subtle attempt to be a covert spy.
“Dude, I’ll bet you twenty bucks he’s getting a hand job,” he challenges. The light from the forgotten movie shines on his face as he bounces his eyebrows up and down.
“No, they aren’t,” I object. “There’s no way they’d do that in the middle of a crowded theater.”
With a dark chuckle, he pats my head. “Silly, naïve Charlie. Sometimes I forget how innocent you are.”
“Shut up.” I shove his hand away and give him a glare. There’s no point in arguing because we both know he’s not wrong.