Page 48 of Paint Our Song

There’s a strange glint in her eyes. “Call it a hunch,” she says.

“Bye.”

Miles puts away his dishes—and helps clear some of the other tables while he’s there—then heads to his car with his sketchbook in hand. He searches up the movie schedule and sees that the film Calvin’s watching—an indie film calledThe Blue Ocean—has about half an hour more to go. Damn, the things he does to get some privacy, really.

Chapter Thirteen

After Miles passes by Home Depot and gets a new pair of gardening gloves for Mom, he takes his phone out to send Calvin a text.

Me: I’m at the mall, coming up to the theaters

Cat-vin: Ok.

Even though it’s already seven p.m., there’s still a good amount of people in the small three-storey mall, most likely because it’s a Saturday night. Miles heads to the ticketing lobby of the cinemas and spots Calvin immediately, sitting on a bench with his ball cap drawn low over his eyes. He’s got his head down and is going through his phone, and Miles wonders if he’s doing that to look busy and shield his face.

“Hey,” Miles says, stepping in front of him.

Calvin looks up, his eyes shadowed by the cap. He smiles and Miles’s heartbeat quickens. “Sorry. Some teenagers at the arcade recognized me, and it became a thing. So, I bought tickets and snuckinto the theater.”

“I’m surprised they didn’t follow you inside.”

He grins. “Guess they didn’t want to learn about the ocean. They probably would have if it were Theo. Or Chase.”

What a funny thing to say, really—funnier even when Miles realizes, right at that moment, that he’d follow Calvin to the end of the world if he could.

“The arcade’s still crowded, but I think you’ll be able to get past them if I walk next to you.” Miles pokes the tip of his cap down so that it shadows his eyes again. Calvin gets the hint and bows his head a bit.

Truly committing to being a helpful impromptu bodyguard, Miles puts an arm around his shoulders and pulls him close, just so his arm blocks some of his face. Also, so that his tattooed arm is squeezed between them.

He didn’t think this through. Calvin’s warm, and he smells really nice.

“This is stupid. I’m so sorry. I only wanted to walk around the mall,” Calvin murmurs. “It wasn’t even this bad until we announced the break-up.”

Miles is still very much distracted by being this close to him, so he doesn’t say anything. He only squeezes his shoulder and leads him toward the escalators, which are right in front of the arcade. It seems to work because none of the teenagers even look up in their direction, and Calvin gives a sigh of relief right when they step on the escalator. He gently nudges Miles to let go, and he does, with some disappointment.

Their victory’s short-lived because as soon as they step on the second level, a young woman with a Cloverlily shirt spots Calvin and gapes. Immediately, she tugs on the sleeve of her boyfriend. She’s blocking the way toward the escalator that heads down to the first floor.

“Over here.” Miles holds Calvin by the elbow and leads him in the other direction.

They turn a corner and Miles is surprised to see that the elevator he was planning to take instead has an “under construction” sign taped to it. Well, fuck.

Calvin tilts his head and laughs.

Frustrated, Miles looks around. There’s a dim sum restaurant that’s full, and a shoe store, and—there.

“Ooooh, this is new!” Miles excitedly points at the big bright label that says “Karaoke”.

Calvin frowns. “Are you for real?”

“Yes, it’ll be fun; plus, we’ll get some privacy.” Without waiting for a response, Miles pulls him toward the counter. “Hi! Can we get a room?”

The teenager behind the counter looks between them. “Is it only you and your boyfriend?”

Miles says, not thinking because of how he wants to move this along, “Yes, only us.”

“No, we’re not—Miles, stop.” Calvin pushes at his shoulder and scowls. His face goes through about five different shades of red. “You can’t say things like that.”

The teenager gives them both an odd look. So much for notmaking this conversation any longer than it has to be. Miles gestures for Calvin to go ahead inside while he gets them a room. “Go. I’ll follow.”