Page 33 of The Off-Limits Play

I snicker and open the packet, stealing one bear before handing them back to her.

“That’s more like it.” She grins, rifling through the bag until she’s got a green and an orange one. “They’re the best flavors,” she explains, as if it’s so obvious.

“Wrong,” I counter, snatching the bag back and digging out the strawberry and raspberry ones. I pop the two candies in my mouth with a smug grin.

She just shrugs. “Guess we’re always meant to share gummy bears, then. You take the red ones, and I’ll have everything else.”

Her smile is about as bright as the screen illuminating her face.

I look away before I have the urge to kiss her.

Too late! You want that mouth on yours, no question.

But that ain’t gonna happen.

I am not doing anything more than keeping her company at the movies. That’s it. Discussion over.

To prove my point, I sit as straight as I can in my seat and shake my head when she offers me some popcorn.

“You don’t like popcorn?”

“Not really.”

“Then why’d you buy such a big tub?” She snickers.

I slowly turn my head to look at her. I don’t say anything, and a smile is soon tugging at the edges of her mouth.

“You’re sweet,” she murmurs, leaning toward me.

I stiffen, wondering if she’s gonna rest her head against my shoulder or some shit.

Fuck. This movie is gonna kill me. I can’t go getting snuggly and friendly with this woman.

Ask her about G-Dawg!

Maybe hearing about some other putz will piss me off enough not to feel anything soft and squishy around this chick.

“Who’s G-Dawg?” I suddenly blurt.

Her head pops back. “Excuse me?”

Oh fuck! I just gave away the fact that I was looking at her phone.

I try to hide my cringe, but my nose still wrinkles, my jaw clenching tight.

“You ass.” She lightly thumps my arm with the back of her hand. “You’re not supposed to read off other people’s phones. When did you even…? Oh. You were behind me in the line. You little creeper.”

My nose wrinkles again, and I look away from her. When the fuck is this movie going to start?

Nylah eyes me up for a minute, and I keep looking straight ahead, willing the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Movie Month image on the screen to fade away and turn into advertising or trailers… or the fucking movie that we’re here to see!

After a painful beat of Nylah staring me down and me refusing to look, she sighs and mutters, “She’s my gramma.”

“What?” I spin. Okay, fine, I’m looking now. I have to! “You call your grandma G-Dawg?”

“Among other things.” She grins.

All I can do is gape at her like she’s deranged.

---