Page 52 of Absolute Certainty
“Priya and Carmen?” Sahar suggested—Sam and Declan’s wives, respectively.
Tea kettle in her hand, Willa grinned. “That sounds like heaven on earth.”
Willa had initially plannedto get her tragus pierced, but at the last minute, she opted out of it and went with a flat, just like Sahar.
The two of them also decided to get matching floral studs.
After leaving Max’s Tattoos and Piercings, they grabbed dinner at Leo’s Pizza near their apartment. The humidity hadn’t eased, yet the twilight afterglow showing off around them was more than welcome. She snapped a quick photo of the cotton-candy sky while they waited for their food, letting the chatter around her blur into noise.
It wasn’t until she heard the words,Deadpool and Wolverine,and turned to see a billboard behind her that she realized she didn’t know Jay’s stance on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was an industry detail that often came up with renowned directors voicing their apprehension toward the superhero genre, so where did Jay stand on it?
She could text him to find out. Another harmless conversation starter, nothing to worry about. Sahar opened her phone to do so.
SAHAR
You know what we haven’t talked about? Where do you, Mr. Writer and Director, stand on the MCU?
They carried off their pies from the pick-up section and walked back home. Willa was humming a song Sahar didn’t know, and the night had turned out to be quite lovely in that way only time with your best girlfriends could be—safe and comfortable.
Jay responded almost instantly.
JAY
Lol I generally prefer DC adaptations, though I find it’s significantly hard to top what Nolan achieved with the Dark Knight trilogy. But I don’t dislike the MCU. I preferred it more during the Infinity saga than I do now with Phase 4. Or 5. Whatever number we’re in.
Unsurprisingly, his opinions matched her own.
SAHAR
I fully agree. I’m sticking around for Spider-Man, but I’m a bit tired of keeping up.
JAY
Knowing you, No Way Home probably wrecked you.
Knowing you.He did know her, didn’t he?
Sahar giggled. Willa pivoted to face her. She shook her head as if to say nothing. Except, it didn’t feel like nothing.
It felt like—the beginning of everything.
No. Stop.
SAHAR
Wrecked, ruined, permanently damaged my whole soul, you name it.
JAY
It was a near-perfect movie.
SAHAR
I emphatically agree.
Fuck.The urge to keep texting Jay overwhelmed her again. Potential feelings aside, she liked talking to him. She wanted to pick his brain as much as she could, about anything and everything. Whatever he’d give her.
But she couldn’t. She shouldn’t be the one who was always chasing people. Why couldn’t he keep conversations going instead?Probably because he doesn’t want to. You’re good to him when it comes to his writing. That’s all.
