Page 59 of Pictures in Blue
“What?” She asks.
“What’s your favorite movie? And please dear god don’t sayTwilight.”
“What’s wrong withTwilight? Those movies are classics.”
“They’re terrible!” I exclaim.
“Wait, you’ve seen them?”
“Avery, I grew up with two sisters, of course I’ve seen them. I’ve probably seen them more times than you have.”
“Team Edward or Team Jacob?” She asks and I sigh, wondering how we got here.
“Team Charlie.”
“What? That’s not an option.”
“It is in my book. That man goes through so much shit in those movies. He deserved better.”
She moves her head closer to me until her cheek is almost touching mine. “He is the hottest one out of all of them.”
I shake my head not even sure what is making me say the words that are about to come out of my mouth. “You know, I don’t think I disagree with you.”
She laughs, and what I would give to make her laugh like that every hour of every day. To make her smile and never feel pain or sadness again. The sound of her laugh flows through the air and mixes with mine, a melody created just for us.
“Okay, okay,” she says. “Favorite movie. Mmmmmm…I guess if we are talking classics, thenShop Around the Corner,but if we are talking more modern films then definitelyMonty Python and the Holy GrailorThe Princess Bride.”
Trepidation seeps into my skin and settles there, a parasite latching on to its host. I let the silence stretch between us, trying to figure out how to form the words I want to say. “You know that movie?”
“The Princess Bride? Yeah we talked about it yesterday, remember? Or does Ethan need to call you Dory too?”
“No.The Shop Around the Corner? That’s your favorite classic movie?”
“Yeeeeees,” she draws out like the answer should have been obvious. “Is that so hard to believe?” She adds.
“Yes,” I say. “I mean, no, it’s just…anytime I’ve ever mentioned that movie to anyone—which isn’t a lot because not very many people like classics—they’ve never seen it or they’ve never even heard of it. And now, here you are, someone from a completely different world, a woman that wants to stay away from me, which I agreed to, who knows that movie and it’s your favorite.”
The universe is royally fucking with me. I’m convinced. Or Sarah, if I believe in that kind of stuff, which I don’t know if I do, but even I have to admit, this is weird.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have made you agree to that,” she whispers, so quietly I almost doubt her words.
My shoulders tense and she shifts on my back, repositioning herself. We ignore her comment and keep walking. With about a mile left to the bar I am determined to focus on anything else besides her body pressed against mine and the feeling of her warmth seeping through her clothes. A mile to keep my mind from wondering what her skin would feel like against mine and if it’s as soft as it looks in the sunlight.
“How does your ankle feel?” I clear my throat, still unbelieving that she walked so far on an injured ankle. She clearly doesn’t mind much pain or she is more tolerant than I previously gave her credit for.
“It’s okay,” she responds, quietly. “It’ll be fine once I ice it again later tonight.”
We walk the rest of the way in comfortable silence. Once we reach the bar around the corner, Avery starts to slide off my back, taking me by surprise. When I don’t let go right away, she stumbles and tightens her grip on my shoulders.
“Sorry,” I say. “I wasn’t ready for your dismount.”
“I just didn’t think it was a good idea to arrive on your back again when basically the whole town is around the corner.”
She has a point. This morning was a disaster with the whole dining room at the inn gawking at us like we were aliens sent from space demanding them to take us to their overlords.
“You’re right. Sorry.” I slip off the camera bag that is slung across my shoulder and hand it to her. Her fingers graze mine as she takes it and places the bag on her shoulder.
“Thanks,” she takes a step back, heading into the bar. “And thanks for the, uh, ride…I guess…I’ll see you around.” With a small wave and her eyes looking anywhere but at me, she retreats into the bar and I am left staring at the spot in the gravel where she was just standing.
