Page 49 of An Unfinished Memory

I smiled and fought my inclination to press into the door. “You won’t find me working at the zoo, no.”

He leaned back. “I’d love to see you in action sometime. I get a kick out of catching Jake at work. All I can see is the little kid who dragged our cat around playing doctor.”

Everyone laughed. Ethan was so damn congenial, so easy to be around, yet I was ready to crawl out of my skin.

After driving to Hazen Bay by Lake Sakakawea and stretching our legs, where Ethan acted like a shadow the whole time, Jake drove to the theater. The smell of popcorn and butter enveloped me as soon as we walked in. I wasn’t hungry, but a salt craving hit me hard. That time of the month was coming soon. I needed something to do anyway before Ethan got the bright idea I wanted to hold hands like I was twelve again.

The theater was one huge swath of seats twelve chairs wide. An aisle ran down either side and exited to the main area that led to the bathrooms. We settled into our seats. I waited for Jake and Vienne to shuffle in. Ethan gestured for me to sit by Vienne.

I hugged my popcorn. “I like the end seat.” I could lean into the aisle and not be crunched against him.

“What the lady wants.” He sat, and I perched next to him. As the opening credits rolled, I relaxed and munched on my popcorn. For almost two hours, I wouldn’t have to worry about saying something that could be taken as suggestive or worry that my expression said I was thinking about my ex.

Then Ethan snaked his hand into the popcorn and grabbed a handful. “You don’t mind, do you?” he murmured.

“No,” I croaked. A kernel of popcorn caught in my throat, and I coughed. There were only a few other people in the seats behind us and two more up front, but I shoved the straw in my mouth to quiet myself.

Cold lemonade washed down the tickle, but my dismay remained. He’d fondled my popcorn. That felt somehow…intimate.

“You okay?” he asked quietly and took my drink from me. “May I? I should’ve gotten my own.”

“Sure?” I squeaked.

He took a pull from the straw.

Fuck’s sake. Borrowing one of the Knights’ favorite swear words was fitting in this case.

How was I supposed to drink now? I was used to getting peed on, drooled on, spit on, and having various body fluids splashed on me including the emptying of anal glands. That smell could make a strong stomach weak. But I wasn’t prepared to swap spit via third party with Ethan.

“I’m fine.” I took my lemonade back and put it on the other side of the armrest.

The corner of his mouth lifted, giving him a more debonair air with the lights of the screen playing over his strong features. “Good.”

He propped an arm on the seat behind my head. Wasn’t that uncomfortable? It should be.

I glowered at the movie, not seeing what was playing. The gorgeous movie stars with the brilliant white teeth couldn’t keep my anger from simmering. I wasn’t supposed to be in this position. I wasn’t supposed to be ready to date. I wasn’t supposed to have a sex life to hide from a date.

My popcorn was almost gone when he snuck another handful, crowding my personal space even more.

I gave him a tight smile. “I have to go to the bathroom,” I whispered and shoved the popcorn bucket at him. He juggled it with his free hand but had to remove his arm from the seat to keep it from tipping to the floor.

I scurried up the aisle, my mind a mess. I kept my gaze riveted to the floor, hoping the other few attendees didn’t think I was running for my life. I glanced over. The older couple was cutely cuddled together, their focus on thescreen. A guy was by himself on the far side, and that was it except for another lone man at the very back with his head resting in his hand, his fingers splayed over his face. How was he even seeing the screen?

I rounded the corner into the dark vestibule when what I just saw dawned on me. That man alone in the far back had nice wide shoulders. Hair squashed from wearing a hat. Like what a Montana deputy wore all day.

Hedidn’t.

I backed up until I faced him. The movie was nothing but a drone in the background as I went cold and then hot.

There was my ex-husband. Spying on me. He looked up. Whatever scene was playing cast his expression in shadows, but his chagrined features were visible.

I opened my mouth to demand to know what the hell he thought he was doing showing up at the movies I was on a date at, but I slammed my lips shut. I couldn’t call attention to us. Vienne would recognize him. Wilder at the movies in Coal Haven would be tough to explain.

I slammed across his knees to get to the seat on the other side. His groan was barely audible. That was what he got for having impossibly long muscular legs. I plopped into the seat, the chair making a thunk as it unfolded all the way. We both froze and watched the group of three from my double date.

When they didn’t move, I faced Wilder. “What are you doing?” I mouthed.

He leaned in close. “Did I interrupt your snack with your new boyfriend?” His hot breath wafted over my earlobe and feathered its way down my neck. I shivered, and all the longing and throbbing from earlier turned to high.

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