Chapter Thirty Eight
I look down at my watch for what feels like the hundredth time tonight. When did time decide to move so slowly? I run a hand through my hair then pick at an invisible thread on the hem of my T-shirt. “I don’t think they’re coming.”
“They’re coming,” Buzz simply replies.
“How are you so sure?”
“Because I haven’t seen Lori since Saturday.”
“And?”
“And she’s having major withdrawal symptoms.” He flexes both of his biceps. “She’s dying for some more Buzz. But then again, who isn’t?”
“I hope they don’t show up now just to wipe that cocky grin off of your face.”
“You don’t mean that.”
No, I don’t. I check my watch again. Maybe I need a new battery because it still says eight twenty nine. I zip up my jacket only to unzip it again a few seconds later.
He laughs. “Chill out, Yankee. You’re acting like we’re about to rob a bank.”
He’s right. I’ve never been good at hiding my emotions. I don’t know why I feel so nervous about seeing Sophia again. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been able to stop fantasizing about how soft her skin is. Or maybe it’s because my dream about her had been so vivid that I woke up this morning and expected to see her lying next to me. Whatever the reason, I was desperate to see her again. Desperate to feel that invisible force which seems to push us together. I clear my throat. “Stop calling me Yankee.”
“Whatever you say…Yankee.” He nods to the opposite side of the street. “I told you they’d come.”
I instantly relax when I see Sophia walking towards me. She’s wearing jeans and a baggy shirt but she still looks impossibly beautiful. I notice that her expression is softer than usual, perhaps a little apprehensive. Maybe I’m not the only one who is feeling nervous. “Mason thought you were going to stand us up,” Buzz announces before I can even say hello.
I roll my eyes. “I thought that you were bound to find something better to do but Buzz reassured me that you would come. What was it that you said? That somebody was gag…”
“Let’s go inside,” Buzz interrupts, throwing a warning glance in my direction. “The movie will be starting.”
Lori pouts as she follows him inside. “Aww, the trailers are the best part.”
“Hi,” I finally say when we’re alone. “How are you?”
She hesitates. “I’m…fine.” Her eyes are full of sincerity as she asks, “How about you?”
“I’m doing okay.” A truth to contrast her lie. We stand in silence for a moment but it’s clear that she doesn’t want to talk about whatever is on her mind. “How’s your wrist doing?”
She pushes her sleeve up. “I forgot all about it to be honest. It doesn’t sting anymore.”
“That’s good,” I say, eyeing the burn. “It looks like you might be left with a little scar.”
“Oh well, I guess it’ll add a bit of character.”
“That’s true. And hey, at least people won’t mess with you if you have a scar.”
“Well they don’t anyway because of my badass butterfly tattoo, but now I’m taking intimidation to a whole new level.”
I laugh. “I’ve got to admit, I’m pretty scared of you right now.”
“You should be,” she says completely straight faced before laughing. “We should probably go inside.”
I hold my hands up. “I’m not going to argue with somebody who has a butterfly tattoo.” I fall into step beside her. “What movie are we even watching?”
“I have no idea. I was going to ask you the same thing.”
We make our way over to the ticket booth just as Buzz turns around, holding four tickets up in the air. “There’s been a slight change of plan,” he tells us. “The new Tom Hanks movie has sold out.”
“So we’re watching Beautiful Disaster instead,” Lori says, clapping her hands excitedly. “It’s based on one of my all time favorite books. I know the movies are never usually as good but I’m still excited to see how it turned out. I can’t wait to see Colton Haynes as Travis.”
I smile politely as she continues naming different characters. Sophia is biting her lip, looking deep in thought. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I whisper.
She shakes her head as though trying to break free from her thoughts. “Oh…yeah…yeah, I’m fine.”
“Long day?” I ask.
“You could say that.”
I don’t push any further. “Do you like ice cream?”
She grins. “Are you joking? I love ice cream.”
Buzz hands me two tickets then whispers, “Back row seats, motherfucker. We’ll see you in there.”
“Ice cream it is then,” I say, ignoring Buzz as we walk over to the concession stand. “What’s your favorite flavor?”
“Oh, I don’t discriminate. I like them all.”
“How considerate of you.”
“What’s yours?”
“I’m very loyal to mint chip. I’ve tried other flavors but I always regret it afterwards. I feel like I’m cheating.”
Something flashes across her eyes but it’s gone in the next second. “Good choice,” she replies.
“What can I get for you?” The cashier asks Sophia, his eyes roaming all over her body.
“They all look so good. Go ahead and surprise me. I’ll take three random scoops.”
“Ah, so you’re a risk taker?” I ask.
“I’ve never really thought about it before but yeah, I guess I am.”
“It’s a good thing.”
“I’m not so sure these days.”
“Take the risk or lose the chance.”
“But what if you take a risk and it backfires?”
“Then at least you’ll learn from it.”
She looks contemplative as the cashier hands her a cone with three large scoops. She thanks him then turns to me. “The polite thing would be to hold off until you get yours, right?”
“And risk it melting? Go for it.” Her eyes light up as she assesses each scoop carefully. “Difficult decision?”
“Sometimes the order in which you eat the scoops can be more important than the actual flavors.”
“Wow, you’re a real ice cream connoisseur.”
“Meh, I guess they’ll all end up in my mouth anyway.” Is it possible to be jealous of food? She takes a lick and then moans. “Oh. My. God.”
I laugh, mostly to distract myself from replaying the sound of her moaning over and over again in my head. “Is it good?”
“Good? It’s the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.” I raise an eyebrow and she laughs as a faint blush creeps across her cheeks. She holds the ice cream out to me. “Here, you need to try it.”
I know that I shouldn’t and I’m about to decline but Jesus Christ, the way she’s looking at me right now, I would do just about anything she asked. All logic goes out of the window as I take the ice cream off of her.