Page 114 of Late Fees

Tilly

1996

“You guys are too cute,” Naomi said as I put my time card back in its designated spot.

“I know,” I said. “I’m pretty crazy about him.”

“Everything going well?”

“Yeah, it’s like…no time has passed at all.”

Naomi sighed, a dreamy look in her eye. “Ahhh, this is the best time. You know, the beginning when everything is flirty and fun and romantic.”

I made a surprised face, and she grimaced.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong, what Ben and I have is the absolute best. But you know, sometimes, I miss the early days when everything was new, and we were learning all about each other.”

“Wyatt and I already know all about each other,” I said with a shrug.

“For the most part, but there’s still that intoxicating newness, right?”

“For sure,” I said with a nod. “And I want to jump his bones, like, every five minutes.”

“You go, girl,” Naomi said, slapping me gently on the butt. “Now, hop to it. He’s waiting.”

With a laugh, I pulled her in for a hug. “You’re the best.”

“Right back atcha, girl.”

When I joined Wyatt back on the sales floor, he had three movies in his hand.

“Okay, what did you pick? Hopefully nothing too…action-y. You know I’ll fall asleep.”

“Only one action movie and two romantic comedies. It seemed like a nice compromise.”

“Okay, what’d you get?”

“Besides the obvious choice from your shelf?” he asked, raising one perfect sandy brown eyebrow.

“Yes, besides that.”

“I found this one,” he said, holding up the box for Only You. “Ahh, Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. You haven’t seen it yet?”

“Nope.” He shook his head. “You have?”

“Yeah, in the theater, but that’s okay. Let’s get it. Robert Downey Jr. never gets old. There’s just something about him. He’s got charisma.”

“And, you know, Marisa Tomei,” Wyatt said with a wink.

I rolled my eyes and pretended to walk away. “Sure, whatever.”

He caught up to me, wrapped his arm around my waist and nuzzled into my neck. A feeling of excitement and peace consumed me as I felt his breath on my skin.

“What else did you choose?” I asked.

“Jurassic Park.”

I turned around to face him, putting my hands on my hips. “Wyatt, haven’t you seen that a million times?”

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