Page 96 of All of You

“Is that a band?”

“Dude, you were really looking attractive just a minute ago but you’re starting to ruin it.”

Langdon laughs. “Sorry. Hang on. I can fix it,” he says. He pulls his phone from his pocket and opens Google. “Say it again. Meryl who?”

I tell him and a picture of the movie cover pops up and he glances back and forth between me and the movie cover image.

“Damn, you nailed it. How’d you manage the neck folds?”

“Liquid latex. The stuff dreams are made of.”

“We should watch it. The movie I mean. Says it’s on Prime.”

I nod. “It’s funny. You’d probably like it.”

He clicks into the app and rents the movie while I snuggle up to him. “Gotta know, why are you watching movies from 1992?”

I shrug. “My mom and I watch a lot of old movies together. This one stuck with me.”

“Want a snack? I can make more popcorn.” He tosses an arm around my shoulder as the opening credits play.

“Actually, can we have the candy?”

“I didn’t take you for a candy girl.”

“What’s wrong with a candy girl?”

“Nothing, I just, I don’t know, haven’t seen you eat any?”

I laugh at his logic. “I’m a dessert-a-holic. Equal opportunity dessert eater if you will. I like it all and crave it all.”

Langdon hops up, grabs the candy bowl, and plops it into my lap before collapsing onto the couch and pulling me onto him.

We’re tangled together, arms and legs on the couch, me sort of on top of and sort of to the side of Langdon. His chest rises with steady slow breaths that I find intoxicatingly comforting.

My mind spins circles around my mother. I’m mad. I hate her. I love her. I missed her. I want her hugs. I will hold a grudge forever and I will forgive her instantly. My thoughts have no middle ground. No compromise. But instead of anxiety and feeling distraught, being in Langdon’s space makes me softer.Able to let all the feelings happen without reacting to one or the other.

The movie ended a while ago. Langdon missed the ending. The front door opens, and Anderson and his parents come in laughing about something.

Anderson, who gives zero fucks that Langdon is sleeping, sprints around the couch and drops two sacks of candy on the coffee table in front of me.

“I scored big. You’re welcome. I told everyone I had a sick sister at home and literally got double the candy!”

I push myself up and from Langdon with a grin. “Wanna dump it out and sort it? Maybe we can trade some stuff?”

Langdon’s dad smiles at me warmly.

“Yeah, okay. Olivia and I used to do that, too.” He picks up his sack, and drops to the floor cross-legged. My heart pangs in my chest. Of course, he would have done that with his sister.

I sit next to him and dump my bag on the floor next to his and begin sorting what he collected. He really did get a lot. And a lot of it isn’t even snack-sized.

It’s well after ten, and Anderson and I are in a heated debate about the Snickers situation. We both want them. Langdon’s parents are in either armchair watching how this will play out. A hand shoots out from behind me and snatches all of the Snickers pile away.

“Hey!” I squeal.

Anderson laughs.

Looking behind me to the couch, Langdon shrugs, unwraps one, and pops it in his mouth.