Page 55 of Perfectly Us

“I’m not feisty.”

There it is.

He glances away shyly. It’s something I adore about him. He can tease me one moment and then get all bashful the next.

“You here to see a movie?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He nods to the concession stand. “I’m here with my dad. He loves military movies and wanted to see the new one about that Special Ops Marine.”

“Man, prepare to cry. That’s all I’m sayin’.”

“Hey.” Shiloh nudges my shoulder. “You can’t tell me that and then refuse to say more. Does he die or something?”

I shrug. “Who knows?”

“You do,” he says. “Because you texted me last night that you were staying late to preview it.”

As projection manager, I get to preview the movies sometimes to make sure the hard drive they provided us isn’t screwed up.

“Did I?” I tap my chin.

“You’re such a jerk.” He cracks a smile.

Landon leaves the concession stand with a large soda in each hand and a bucket of popcorn tucked between his arm and chest. Shiloh goes over to grab one of the sodas to help him.

“Hey, Mr. Walker,” I say once they’re at the podium. “You’re looking all dapper this fine evening. You sure you’re a dentist and not a model?”

Landon laughs. “I like pizza too much to be a model.”

“You’re speaking my language,” I say, tearing his ticket and handing the other half back to him. Otto lets Shiloh in for free now so he doesn’t have to buy a ticket. “You’ll be in theater seven.”

“Have you seen it?” Landon asks.

I zip my lips.

Shiloh chuckles and guides his dad away from the podium as a group of people line up behind them. I tear more tickets and glance down the hall just in time to catch Shiloh’s eye before he goes into the theater.

Landon doesn’t know about me and Shiloh. There’s not much to say. Shiloh is still figuring things out. Before me, he never dated anyone. He doesn’t know if he’s gay, bi, or something else entirely. It would be weird if hewasn’ta little confused about it all.

“That’s Shiloh’s dad?” Ruben asks, coming to stand beside me. He has a carpet sweeper and is cleaning up pieces of popcorn someone dropped around the podium. Because people have a habit of shoving popcorn into their mouth and then fumbling for their ticket when they see me, spilling pieces everywhere like total slobs.

“Yep.”

“He’s freaking hot.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Would you bang him?”

“Maybe.” Ruben winks. I know he’s full of shit though. “You should probably head upstairs.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” I salute him before jogging to the back room, then up the stairs to the projection area.

I start the first movie—the rom-com—and peer through the little window to check the people in the theater. A couple in the back row are totally going at it, looking like they’re eating each other’s faces instead of kissing. I make my way down the list, starting each movie on time. When I get to theater seven, I look down, searching the rows of people for one in particular.

Shiloh and Landon are sitting toward the back. I don’t know how he knew, but Shiloh glances up at me. His indifferent expression breaks as a smile takes its place.

I wiggle my fingers at him before ducking out of sight. My back pocket vibrates not long after, and I fish out my phone.

Shiloh:I see you up there, you stalker.