Page 20 of The Truth

“I would like that very much.”

“Great. I can pick you up around five?”

“Works for me. I usually get done with aquatherapy by three-thirty, so that gives me plenty of time.”

And just like that, she had an officialdatewith Gunn Hiller.

Greer snickered at her. The brat had heard, apparently.

Well, so what?

Maybe Greer could help her figure out what to wear…

13

The theater wasnothing like Ayla had expected.

She had never been to a private screening of a movie before. But this was a really fancy place, located next door to the Barratt—Finley Creek Resort. This place—the old Barratt Theater in downtown Finley Creek—had lots of charm. There were red curtains and gold cords and big plushy chairs. It seemed so 1920s. It was wonderful. She was going to have to bring Aubrey here sometime.

There were other people there she recognized, like Aubrey’s boss and his wife and their five kids. She waved at Dalton—he liked to come with his dad’s Uncle Henry to story time while his older brother and sister were in school, and his baby sisters were at the hospital daycare with their mom. He really likedWonkus McBubbles; Dalton had told her before. She would make sure he got an invitation to theWonkusrelease party.

Ayla turned in her seat, as her beautiful date for the evening returned—goodies in hand. Candy—he had a real sweet tooth, this man.

“You really don’t seem like amovie datekind of guy,” she said, leaning back. This was a really, really comfy chair.She waved at a woman she recognized from PT quickly—Jo-Jo wasn’t all that steady on her own crutches tonight. They could take some getting used to; Jo-Jo had been in a wheelchair last time they’d crossed paths.

“I don’t?”

She smirked. “No. You seem like thesit-in-the-backyard-and-contemplate-the-universetype.”

Just like they had together before. All curled up, his arm around her. She’d drifted off a little. It had felt… perfect. Utterly perfect. Hard to forget that.

“That’s accurate.” He stretched his legs out, shifting so his knee brushed lightly against hers. “But I like to surprise people.”

“Consider me shocked.”

The theater lights dimmed before he could respond, and the TBFN logo flickered onto the screen. Ayla adjusted in her seat, tucking one foot beneath her knee as the opening scene unfolded.

And just like that, she wasin.

The movie was exactly the kind she loved—fast-paced, sharp dialogue, a heroine who wasn’t afraid to take charge. A mother-and-daughter adventure that didn’t rely on cheap tricks or forced sentimentality, but the special effects—not to mention the incredibly hot actors Hunter Luis Clark and Quade Davis—Prince Rufus and Wonkus McBubbles themselves, of course—made it the perfect movie. Probably her favorite now… considering tonight was the firstrealdate of her life.

Every once in a while, she’d hear him laugh. He had a good laugh. It was distracting in a way it shouldn’t have been.

Halfway through, she felt him shift slightly beside her, his knee pressing more firmly against hers. Not on purpose—at least, she didn’t think so—but she didn’t move away.

Didn’twantto move away.

The realization hit out of nowhere. When his arm went around her so easily—much like Dr. Alvaro was snuggling his wife three rows ahead of them, actually—she felt… like this was the most perfect place for her in the entire world.

Oh. That was… a scary thought. A reallyscarythought.

She just looked at him as the movie continued.

“Something on my face?” he asked, quietly.

“No,” she said, turning back to the movie a little too fast. “Nothing. Just… thinking. I’ll tell you later.”

She had a lot to think about. A lot.

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