Page 12 of Sin Bin Daddies
I nod once. “Sounds good.”
She grins and gestures toward the theater entrance. “Come on, Superman.”
It’s mostly empty, just a few diehard horror fans scattered among the rows. We pick seats near the middle, right as the lights dim.
Madeline settles in, then suddenly sits up straight.
“Shit,” she whispers. “I forgot my popcorn.”
I tilt my tub toward her. “You can share mine.”
She leans in, stealing a handful, voice low. “Thanks.”
And fuck if I don’t want to hear her whisper my name like that instead.
The first hour goes by so fast. The movie is good—not that I’m really paying attention.
I mean, I am. Sort of. Jason Voorhees is on his murder spree, and the sound of machetes slashing through unsuspecting campers fills the nearly empty theater.
But then there’s her.
Madeline.
Sitting next to me, curled up in her seat, fingers brushing against mine every time she reaches for popcorn.
And those fucking shorts.
They hug her thighs, barely covering anything, and I have to force myself to look away. Because her legs are pale—so fucking pale—and it’s rare to see that in Miami.
Everyone here is tanned. Sun-kissed. Bronzed from the beach and the heat.
But her? She’s soft and smooth and untouched by Miami’s sun.
I shift in my seat, staring at the screen, trying to focus.
Then I glance at her again.
And she’s already watching me.
She doesn’t say anything. Just tilts her head slightly, then looks away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Damn.
The rest of the movie flies by in a blur of near touches and stolen glances. We don’t sit for the next one.
By the time we’re walking out together, I don’t even pretend I wasn’t distracted as hell.
“This happens almost every night. The movie marathons, I mean,” I say. “If you ever wanna join me again.”
She pulls her phone out of her pocket, checking the time. “Probably not gonna be around long. I’m here… visiting my brother.”
Oh.
I hate the way disappointment creeps up my spine.
“Where you from?” I ask.
“Boston,” she says, exhaling like the word itself exhausts her. “You?”
