Page 54 of Give My Everything
“And you even went alcohol-free,” I tease. “So thoughtful.”
We settle in and start nibbling on the snacks just as the movie starts playing, the sounds echoing across the beach.
“I’ve never seen this movie.”
My mouth drops and I whip my head around to look at him.
“You’ve never seenJaws!?”
He laughs a little bit and then shushes me. “Not so loud. You don’t want to disturb the other moviegoers.”
I roll my eyes and place a slice of aged cheddar onto a piece of bread. “More like you don’t want me to embarrass the shit out of you by announcing to the crowd that you haven’t ever seen one of the most amazing movies ever created. I cannotbelieveyou haven’t seen this. It’s like…a childhood staple to get super freaked out by the score.” When he just keeps watching me without reaction, I set my snack down and rise up onto my knees. “Duuuhhhhh dun.”
He shakes his head at my childishness.
I creep even closer to him.
“Duuuhhhhh dun.”
“Remmy.”
But I can hear the laughter in his voice, my hands tapping along the blanket between us as I continue to creep closer to him.
“Duh dun, duh dun, duh dun, duh dun—”
“Okay, okay!” He laughs. “I get it.”
I fall onto my back and laugh too, appreciating the levity of the moment.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to laugh like…a kid.
Not that Iama kid—that ship sailed a long time ago—but it feels good to let loose a little bit in a way that just allows for silliness and ridiculousness without a need to impress anybody.
Ben lies back on the blanket next to me, neither of us at all interested in paying attention to the movie.
“You know, you’re a lot different than I thought you’d be.”
He turns to his side, propping himself up on his elbow.
“How so?”
I shrug, though the movement is awkward since I’m lying on the blanket.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just figuring you out a little bit.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I turn my head to watch him where he hovers above me.
With any other man, I’d consider how we’re positioned an invitation to do something more, something inappropriate for where we are.
In public.
But I can’t read his expressions like I can with other men.
He guards how he feels like it’s something he wants to hide away from me.
“I’m still trying to figure you out, too,” he whispers.
And then I see it.
