Page 108 of Hooking Up

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I hold my hands over my earsI can't hear you.

His smile spreads over his cheeks. "Did you like it?"

"Jaws? No. It scarred me for life. I get freaked out in three feet of ocean."

"Really?"

"Shut up. It's embarrassing. Especially when you're all cool, chill surfer boy."

"You can be cool, chill surfer girl. I'll teach you. This weekend."

"Maybe."

"I promise you won't get eaten by sharks."

"Can you really promise that?"

"Yeah. They'll eat me. I'll be the one in the water."

"So I'll have to watch you die?"

"Worst case scenario."

I stare back at him, trying to figure out if he's joking.

He presses his palm to my cheek. "Shit. You're really freaking."

I nod.

His voice gets soft. "There hasn't been a shark attack here in forever. It's safe. But if you're scared—"

"No. I want to." I'm tired of being scared. I'm tired of the comfortable numb. I need to actually live my life instead of trying to get through every day for the sake of adding another twenty-four hours of sobriety to my calendar.

"What about movies without sharks?"

"I used to love them."

"And now?"

"Not as much."

"You get old. Lose the magic."

"Maybe."

"You want it back?"

I arch a brow. "Does this involve coming in a movie theater."

"Fuck, that's a good idea." He presses his forehead to mine. "But no."

"Really?"

He nods. "Blade Runneris playing at the Nuart at midnight Friday. Come with me."

"Blade Runner?"

"Don't tell me you haven't heard of it. Iris, it's a classic."

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