Page 42 of Bad Things Come in Threes (The Rule of Three #1)
“Technically, you bumped into me.” I opened my mouth to argue but he stopped me, “But that isn’t why I asked.”
“Why did you ask if it wasn’t to start an argument?”
“You were there with Olivia right?” I hummed, “How was the night before you bumped into me. You can just give me one word.”
“It was fun. I mean it isn’t really my thing but it was fun because she was there.”
“That’s what it smells like,” when I looked at him in confusion he explained, “I could describe every single thing that I can smell but you wouldn’t get the full experience.
It’s the way the smells come together. It’s like a night out with friends that you were dragged to.
It’s overwhelming and slightly annoying but it is also warm and somehow there’s nowhere else you would rather be. ”
All my life I was never bothered by the fact that I couldn’t smell. It wasn’t like I had a sense of smell and lost it so there was never anything to miss. But for the first time ever, I wanted to experience things the way he did.
I didn’t think it was possible to feel nostalgic for something that you never had but here I was wishing that for once my nose would work and I would be able to experience things to the max just like everyone else.
I had to force the emotion down my throat as I spoke, “You don’t have to do this all the time you know.”
“I know,” he said before adding softly, “Mais le regard sur ton visage quand je le fais en vaut la peine.”
The lights went out and the movie started to play. Nathan reached under his chair and pulled out a blanket that I didn’t even realize was there and he placed it over my body .
“Aren’t you cold?” I asked but he waved me off, “We could share. We would have to pull our chairs closer but I would hate to have to drag you back to the inn if you get hypothermia.”
“Careful sunshine or I might think you care about me.”
“Hell would have to freeze over first.” I retorted but my words had no bite to them.
The blanket was on the smaller side so we had to sit right next to each other for it to cover us both. Our shoulders were brushing and so were our thighs but something about it just felt right and I couldn’t put my finger on it.
When I saw the name of the movie I scoffed. “The Addams Family; are you kidding me?”
“It’s a masterpiece.” I heard the defensive note in his voice and my lips quirked up.
“This is your guilty pleasure, isn’t it?” I asked and he shrugged, “I would never have pegged you for an Addams Family guy.”
“I like to be unpredictable. I’m sure your guilty pleasure is something cliché like, The Devil Wears Prada.”
“Is there a problem with that?” I hated that he got it on the first try. “That movie is a masterpiece.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it.” He stayed quiet and I gasped, “You haven’t seen the movie?”
“It just isn’t my thing,” he shrugged, “I know all about it though.”
“Knowing it and watching it are two different experiences,” he scoffed, “It is a rite of passage into adulthood.”
He placed the bowl of popcorn on his lap and took a handful. “Not really sunshine because I’m an adult and I haven’t watched it. ”
“You have no idea what you’re missing out on.” He pushed the bowl towards me and I took a handful of my own, “At least say you’ll watch it.”
“I don’t make promises that I can’t keep.” I rolled my eyes and nudged his side with my elbow. “Assault is a federal crime that’s punishable by law.”
“Bite me.”
“I will if you ask nicely.”
I shot him a glare and he responded with a smile. I rolled my eyes at him and turned to face the large screen.
Contrary to how I reacted earlier, I did enjoy the Addams Family when I watched it as a child but it has been so long that I can barely remember what happened in the movie.
“Thank you,” I said after a beat of silence, “You didn’t have to do any of this but you did, so thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me for basic human decency.”
“You know I’ve never been to a drive in before. Although I guess this isn’t really a drive in because there are no cars but you get the drift.”
“Where would you go on dates then?”
I tried to ignore the flutter in my belly as I asked, “Is this a date?”
He shook his head but I saw the corner of his lips quirk, “Don’t change the subject.”
“I never really went on a date to be honest unless you count the times I went out with Olivia.”
“He never took you out?” Nathan sounded genuinely perplexed by the entire thing .
“He did, but we would go to high class restaurants and public events. We would never arrive together or be seen leaving together.”
“That sounds like shit.”
I laughed softly, “Now that I look at it, I guess you’re right.” I shook my head to rid myself of the thought, “But it doesn’t matter anymore; it is all in the past.”
“You’re right, it is.”
I don’t know how it happened or when it happened. Maybe it was my way of silently showing my gratitude but my hand found his and I squeezed it softly.
I realized what I did when I felt him look at me and I tried to pull my hand away but he entwined our fingers and squeezed it back.
I sighed softly and just allowed myself to feel for once and enjoy the outdoors without the pressure of wondering if I was going to end up as the cover of a tabloid or a magazine and without thinking about work or my deadlines.
I let my head rest against his shoulder and I felt him tense for a second before he relaxed against me and pulled our entwined hands into his lap.
We stayed like that, barely watching the movie and just enjoying the calmness of the other’s company. The sound from the TV and the warmth from his skin had me more comfortable than I have been in a long time.
I closed my eyes to savor the experience and imprint it into my brain when I heard his voice. It was so soft, almost like he didn’t want me to hear.
“Tu n’as aucune idée a quel point je suis heureux d’etre ton premier endez-vous.”