Page 32 of Revive Me

He shifts his upper body to face me. “The Conjuring.”

I roll my eyes. “What is this, amateur hour?”

“Just testing you,” he says, eyes narrowing playfully. “Alright, how aboutSeven?”

“Sogood,” I gush. “I think I stared at my TV with my mouth open for the last ten minutes.”

“Identity?”

“No idea why that’s considered horror, but I loved that one. The twist was brilliant.”

“Psycho?”

“I once held a 24-hour Hitchcock watch party in college. I think I’ve seen every movie he’s ever directed.”

“Nowthatsounds like a party I would attend.Saw?”

I shudder. “Love the concept from a psychology perspective. Hate the movies.”

Roman nods. “Ah, yes, I forgot. If you weren’t a physical therapist, you’d be a psychologist.”

I frown, confused by his comment. But when I realize he’s remembering the conversation we had the first night we met, something in me warms.

“How aboutThe Shining?” he asks.

“I think I’m scarred from trying to read Stephen King’s books as a kid, but that movie deserves its spot as a classic. Stanley Kubrick is a brilliant director.” I cock my head. “But I thought this was your list of lesser-known mystery horror movies?”

“Sorry, I got distracted,” Roman says with another chuckle. “I wanted to hear your thoughts on the big ones. Okay, how aboutShutter Island?”

“Okay,” I gasp excitedly, crossing my legs so I can face Roman completely. He’s watching me with an amused expression. “First of all,lovea Scorsese movie. Second of all, that twist had mefucked. up.Did any part of you see that coming??”

“No,” he admits. “I read the book before the movie came out and almost threw it against the wall when I got to the end. I love how it tied everything together, though. Have you ever gone back to watch it a second time knowing the ending?”

“No, but that’s a good idea.”

Now it’sRomanwhose excitement is mounting. Pulling one leg up onto the cushions, he shifts to face me slightly so he can drape one arm along the back of the couch. “Have you ever read the book?” he asks.

I shake my head, riveted. By the movie or Roman, I’m not sure.

“You should. Dennis Lehane’s novels are incredible. But this one in particular is mind-blowing because he has one line at the very end of the book that completely changes the meaning of the ending.”

I wrack my brain for the ending scene in the movie. “So the book ends differently?”

“Itimpliesa different ending,” Roman clarifies. “One sentence and it became the most incredible example of revisionism that I’ve ever seen between a book and a film. I’ve always wanted to know who came up with it, if it was Lehane or someone involved in the movie.”

“Wow,” I breathe out. “Guess I know what I’m reading this weekend.”

“Have you ever readGone Girl? That’s another one that was adapted really well. Not horror, but the mystery storyline’s breadcrumbs were exceptional in the book.”

I stare at Roman, unable to hold back my smile. “Sounds like you read a lot.”

His excitement fades to slight sheepishness as he shrugs. “I guess.” Self-deprecation tinges his laugh. “It’s not like I have anything else to do.”

I’m not buying into his effort to diminish his interest. “Shutter Islandcame out over a decade ago.”

He looks like he wants to brush me off again, but after a moment, he sighs. “Alright, fine. I like reading.”

A slow grin stretches across my face. “If I’m remembering correctly, your exact words on the night we met were:I was a huge nerd in high school.”

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