Page 45 of Any Second Now
“Shit, I’m sorry, you’re right. But it’s with your sister and January, so forgive me?”
Atticus nods toward the loveseat, holding both glasses of wine. “What do they have to say, besides laughing at us?”
“Oh, you know. The usual.”
“So harassing you about your life choices?” Atticus sinks down on one side of the couch, his body turned toward the center.
Well, okay. We will be full on touching once I sit down. I never noticed how small this couch is. I’ve never sat on it with anyone else.
I lower myself next to Atticus and he watches me, a slight smile on his face. Just as I expected, our knees touch when I’m fully seated.
“Cheers.” He holds his glass toward me. “To hanging out with old friends.”
“Cheers.” I clink his and take a gigantic gulp of wine. “Damn, that’s good.”
“It’s my mom’s wine again.”
“Tell her it’s delicious.”
“Next time I talk to her, I will.” This man is staring at me and I’m not sure if I feel uncomfortable with his gaze and proximity or if I want to strip off all my clothing and mount him.
Really? Is this what it’s like to be six months out of a second divorce? Ready to mount the first hot professional hockey player I run into?
I clear my throat and look away. “What movie did you pick?” I grab the remote and click the screen on. “I can project from my phone. The campsite has remarkably good wifi.”
“You go first.”
“Well, I picked a romance, since we’re talking about dating.”
“I didnotpick a romance,” he chuckles.
“Mine isWarm Bodies. You’ve probably never?—”
Atticus bursts out laughing, wine almost splattering on his knee.
“You’ve heard of it.” I bite my lip and will my face to not turn bright pink.
“Oh, I’ve heard of it.” He stops laughing but keeps the wide grin. “And I love that movie.”
“What? You do?” I let out a relieved laugh. “I thought you were going to think I was a weirdo for picking it.”
“Well yeah, I kinda do, but I guess that makes me a weirdo too.” Atticus takes off his baseball hat and then re-settles it on his head. “I pickedShaun of the Dead.”
“I love that movie too!” I laugh and push his leg with my hand. “I am obsessed with zombie movies.”
“Same.”
“But I mostly prefer when they are light hearted or funny.Shaun of the Deadis one of my favorites.”
“And it does have some romance in it.” Atticus sips his wine and nudges his knee against mine. “It’s pretty romantic how Shaun battles hordes of zombies to save the woman he loves.”
“That is very true. But inWarm Bodies, he literally becomes un-undead for her. She brings his heart back to life.” It’s actually really romantic and sweet, even though it’s a zombie movie with on-screen brain eating.
“Yeah, good point.” Atticus rubs his chin. “Let’s start with that one, and then it’ll be close to fireworks time.” He grabs peanut butter M&Ms from next to him and offers me the open bag.
“Um, yes, absolutely.” I reach in and pull out a few, popping them in my mouth while I scroll for the movie on my phone. “Peanut butter M&Ms and red wine is perfect. Ten out of ten.”
An hour and a half later, the credits roll and I lean back, eyes closed. I survived a whole movie with my leg pressed against Atticus’s and didn’t even die.
