Page 66 of More Than Words
“Are you breaking up with him already?”She plopped down on the other side of me.“Is it because he didn’t use enough whipped cream?I told him it wasn’t enough.”
With a raised eyebrow, I glanced from my overflowing mug to Quinn’s, which somehow had even more whipped cream spilling over the top.
“No, the whipped cream is fine.”I shook my head.“He’s never seenGone with the Wind,” I told her.“It’s a classic.”
“Isn’t that what we’re watching tonight?”
“It is.”
“Then we’ll all be caught up,” Quinn told me.“And you can keep him around a bit longer.”She elbowed me gently.“Even if he is a little cheap on the whipped cream.”
We both laughed, but Ethan just groaned and reached for the remote control.“Okay, that’s enough.Let’s get to the movie before we make any big decisions.”
“Good point.”Quinn turned to me.“I hope it’s not too boring,” she said.“Because if it is, you’re banned from choosing for like…what?A year, Dad?”
“At least,” Ethan agreed with a grin.
“Deal,” I said, even though I already knew she was going to love it.She was way too smart not to.
The opening credits rolled, and the three of us settled in.Ethan’s arm stretched behind me on the couch, his fingers dangling over my shoulder like he was trying not to touch me, lest Quinn think it was gross, but still wanted to be close.Quinn tucked her feet up under her and leaned her head against my shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Like the three of us were the most natural thing.
And maybe we were.
My thoughts flitted back to the conversation I’d had with my friends a few nights earlier.I wasn’t trying to be her mom.I was just trying to bethere.
More importantly, Iwantedto be there.
That meant something.
Ethan
I rinsed the last of the hot chocolate mugs and handed them to Delaney, who stood at the ready with a dish towel.Behind me, the dishwasher hummed quietly with the rest of our dishes.Almost as soon as the end credits rolled, Quinn had slipped away to her room under the pretense of being exhausted and far too tired to be able to help clean up.
I didn’t press the issue the way I normally would have, eager to spend even a few moments alone with Delaney.
Movie night had been fun, but I was more than ready for a little PG-13 rated time.Atleast.
“She liked it,” I said, breaking the easy silence between us.
Delaney looked up.“Quinn?”
I nodded, and she smiled.
“I knew she would,” Delaney said with a grin.“It might be an oldie, butI thought she might connect with Scarlett.”
“You were right.”I took the dry mug from her hand and put it in the cupboard.“She said it was old but pretty cool for asuper classic.And I’d say that’s pretty high praise coming from a twelve-year-old.Good job on your first pick.”
“I’m just glad I didn’t get banned.Besides, now that you’ve seen it, I guess I can keep you.”
“Oh yeah?”I leaned back against the counter.“You think so?”
“Hmm.”She stepped closer, the dish towel still in her hand.“Should I make you give me a movie report?”
I raised my brow in question.
“It’s like a book report, only for a movie.”
