Chapter 26
Marissa sat in the middle of the empty movie theatre with a gigantic bag of popcorn in her lap and listened to the sound of footsteps approaching. She knew it was Vince without looking. Not only could she tell from the sound of his confident stride making its way toward her, but besides her and the projectionist, no one else knew the theatre was open.
She didn’t look over when he made his way down the aisle and sat beside her. Instead, she held out her popcorn. “Want some?”
“Is it fresh?” He took a handful before she answered.
“Yup, I made it myself.” She snuck a glance at him, and her heart raced. He looked relaxed, happy. Not stressed in the way he had back at the condo.
“You work here?” He tossed a piece into his mouth. “I thought you were a waitress?”
“I am. And no, I don’t work here. But they’d left everything I needed to make the popcorn out for me. The rest I figured out.”
The theatre was old, and normally used for special screenings of older movies. She’d come here a number of times over the years, normally with friends late on a Friday or Saturday night. The seats were old, wider than their modern counterparts, and there was more than ample leg room between the rows. But despite that, she held herself still, contained. Vince had come, but she wasn’t sure exactly how to move forward from here.
So, they ate popcorn in the dim light.
Vince reached over for another handful, clearing his throat softly. “Did you see my interview?”
“I did.” She placed the bag on the chair arm between them, making it easier to share. “I was curious about the bursary.”
He nodded. “I’ve setup three different ones, at three of the colleges. You’re not the only person out there who was trying to live and go to school. One is at your college.”
Her face heated. “I saw that.”
“Don’t think that you’ll be the first recipient. It’s up to the college selection committee to choose who gets it.”
“So, you’re not trying to bribe me. That’s good.”
“Marissa…no. I never want you to feel that you owe me. Never that.”
“I don’t.” She cocked her head slightly. “I saw your pin.”
“I was hoping you might notice that.” He shifted, turned more toward her. “I know I said it on tape, but I wanted to say it again. I’m sorry for what I’d said to you. You didn’t deserve being pushed aside. You didn’t deserve me not listening to what you were trying to say to me. You didn’t deserve being used as a pawn in any of this.”
When she reached over for another handful of popcorn, he placed his hand on hers. Marissa finally looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat when she saw unshed tears in his eyes.
He swallowed, before dipping his head. “Everything about us, about our relationship has been unconventional. That scared me for a long time. I’d promised myself that I would never become a man like my father. Seeing him devolve from a family man who worked hard, to an angry, resentful man who wanted others to be as miserable as him, broke my heart. It also pissed me off, because he was making excuses for unacceptable behavior.”
“I know it’s nothing to do with me, but I am sorry you both had to go through that. It’s hard to hold yourself together when someone you loved has betrayed you that way.”
“You did.” He reached over and cupped her face. “Not only did you not allow yourself to become broken, you took charge and figured out a way to make your life better.”
“I joined a sugar daddy site.”
“And I’ll be forever grateful that you did.” He let his hand slip from her cheek and she instantly missed the contact. “I’m sorry for how I treated you. It won’t happen again.”
They were only words, and Marissa knew that despite his sincerity, it would take time to rebuild the trust they’d created. But she knew he would. Because despite their differences, the complete opposite ends of the social spectrum that they came from, when they were together, they were simply Marissa and Vince, strange friends and lovers.
She picked up the popcorn and placed it on the floor as she stood. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to come, but I had the projectionist get ready just in case.”
“I think Caroline would have killed me if I’d refused. Not that I would have if I’d realized I was meeting you.”
“A girl has to have some fun.” She got a wave from the booth, and the lights in the theater were lowered. “Ah, there we go.” Before she took her seat again, she flicked up the arm rest between their seats and leaned up against him.
“Dare I ask what we’re watching?”
“Empire Strikes Back. These guys have it set up so we can show DVDs on the big screen. The owner is a regular at the Pear Tree, so I was able to pull some strings.” She snuggled in as he wrapped his arm around her. “I’m so excited to see your reaction.”
The fanfare blared through the speakers so loud, Marissa almost missed the soft kiss and words Vince spoke against her head. “I love you.”
She almost, almost, said “I know.”
Instead she looked up at him and smiled. “I love you too. Now shut up and watch this.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
* * * *
Vince hadn’t been this excited in a long while. Marissa was draped on his arm as they walked down the street. After the movie had ended, neither of them had wanted the evening to end, and he’d suggested getting dinner. Marissa was still talking about the movie and with each passing moment he fell more in love.
“And I nearly said ‘I know’ when you told me you loved me, but then I realized that you wouldn’t have gotten the reference. Which would have totally sucked.” She laughed and her entire being appeared to glow.
“You can tell me I know, all you want now.”
She laughed. “Naw, it’s a bit corny. Though I might start calling you a scoundrel.”
He leaned in and kissed her temple. “I like the sound of that.”
It had taken him a surprisingly short amount of time to realize that’s what he’d been feeling for quite some time. It wasn’t until he saw her sitting in the theatre with her crazy-large bag of popcorn that he knew it was love. Marissa was unstoppable, unbreakable, and far too good for him.
“What are you in the mood for?” He pulled her a bit closer to him. “I know a great sushi place around here.”
“Oh, I love sushi. Yes please.”
He was about to lead her to the crosswalk, when a group of five approached them. One was already pointing, which meant he’d been recognized. “We’re about to be accosted.”
She frowned, until she caught sight of the group. “Oh. This happens a lot?”
“I don’t normally walk down the street with my girlfriend. This is a new one for me.” Normally, he’d do whatever was in his power to avoid something like this. “Do you want to avoid them?”
Marissa looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Not unless you do.”
“Well then, get ready to be introduced to the world, because you’re about to go viral.”
A woman who didn’t appear to be much older than Marissa was the first to approach. “I’m sorry, are you Vince Taylor?”
Vince nodded and gave Marissa’s arm a little squeeze. “I am.”
The girl’s eyes widened as her gaze slipped to Marissa. “So, that means you’re the woman?”
Marissa blushed and chuckled. “I guess I am.”
“Oh wow.” She turned and beckoned the group over. “Can we get our picture taken with you? Because no one will believe us if we don’t.”
Marissa shrugged. “Sure. I’m not someone famous though.”
“Dude, everyone wants to know who you are. Actually,” she turned around and held up her camera. “Guess what people. She forgave him!”
Marissa laughed and turned her face into his chest. “He was really sweet and yeah.”
The group cheered and the girl turned off her camera. “Awesome. I hope you guys are happy.”
Vince pulled Marissa closer, and kissed the top of her head once again. “She’s made me happier than anything in the world.”
The group waved as they parted and Vince led them toward the restaurant. Marissa had shifted so she was now holding his hand. “Do I really?”
“What?”
“Make you happier than anything in the world?” She flexed her fingers against his. “You have boats—”
“Yachts.”
“—and planes, and you’re a millionaire—”
“Multimillionaire.”
“—who can have anything in the world. Honestly, I’m the one thing that makes you happy.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He stopped walking and turned her so she was looking right at him. “Because you’re the first person to see me as Vince. Not the man on television. Not the guy in the gossip pages. Not the asshole business man. You see me as me. And I love that about you. I love you.”
Marissa hesitated for a moment, before throwing her arms around his neck, and kissed him. “I love you too. So much.”
Wrapping his arm around her, they started walking once more. “Why don’t we eat and talk about what you need so you can concentrate on your courses. Then we’ll go back to my place and we can figure out the rest of the important stuff.”
“Like what?”
“Like can I make you come more than twice in an evening.”
Marissa burst out laughing. “I don’t know if even the great Vince Taylor can do that.”
“Challenge accepted.”
It was going to be sweet living his life with her.