Page 29 of One More Round

So, I asked Link.

Rookie mistake.

I had asked if he had Gia’s number and he acted like a rational human being.

“Oh, yeah, sure, man.” Then read it off to me. No sooner had I saved the contact than he started in on me.

“You know this is great fuel for me to feed the gossip mill. Right? Everyone is going to be very interested in this little tidbit of information.”

“Shut up, Link.”

“Just saying, man.” He draws out the just. “You have been giving her the stink eye since that first night. And in just the past week, you’ve started discussing current events, and now you want her number?”

I shut him down with an eye roll and just went to my room to get ready for my date with Lindsey. Speaking of which, I ended up breaking things off with her. The sole reason being that I just wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t want to lead her on.

Now, two days after getting her number, I find myself standing outside the movie theater waiting for Gia. It’s not a date. It’s just a hang-out-with-friends kind of thing. But I can’t help feeling a bit excited.

“Simon!” I hear from my right. When I look over I see her, and she looks stunning.

Her golden-blond hair is pulled back into a low ponytail and hangs over one shoulder. She’s wearing a bright, orange sweater-looking shirt and dark jeans that seem to fit her like a second skin and a pair of animal print flats. She slides her glasses up to the top of her head and the smile that greets me shows in her gorgeous hazel eyes. I don’t even try to stop the smile that spreads across my face.

Not a date.

I start to walk toward her to do what? I’m not sure. I think I want to reach out and hug her but that would be weird, right? She comes to a stop in front of me and we both stand there smiling at each other. Her hands clutch the strap on her over-the-shoulder bag and I still fight the urge to pull her into a hug. My God, I want to so badly.

Not. A. Date.

“So, here we are,” she says.

“Here we are,” I reply. Stupid grin still on my face.

“You look good, Si,” she says, in an almost husky voice.

I look down at myself. I’m just wearing a nicer version of my favorite pair of jeans, and a black button-up shirt with a pair of Chucks. Not a date, but I did wear my best casual. I look back up when she laughs.

“Yes, your style is still perfectly you, but I was talking more about the smile on your face. I haven’t seen it directed at me in a very long time.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I just shrug.

Topic change needed on Aisle 1.

“So, what movie do you want to see? They’ve got a few starting within the next thirty minutes.”

“Yeah, I looked them up, I thought we could see that newPiratesmovie,” she says with a sly smile.

I can’t help laughing. She obsessed over the firstPirates of the Caribbeanmovie.

Shaking my head, I say OK and guide her to the doors of the theater. Without thinking, my hand goes to the small of her back and it hovers for a moment before I decide to just go for it. I hear her suck in a sharp breath at my touch but we both continue into the building.

Moments later we take our seats toward the back of the theater. There is a good-sized crowd this evening, but not so many people that we have to sit close to others in our aisle. Gia settles in next to me with the popcorn and her drink. I bought our tickets, but she refused to let me buy the popcorn and drinks. In typical Gia fashion, she pulls out a bag of M&M’s. It's nice to see that not all old loves get left behind.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to a movie theater,” I tell her. We are a little early, so the theater ads are still running.

“Yeah? No time for the big screen these days?”

“No, but thank goodness for Netflix and OnDemand. How often do you get to the theaters?”

“I try to catch a movie at least three times a month. My specialty is TV, but I still need to stay up-to-date on what’s making box office records.”

---