Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
She wanted us together.
I held the tub of popcorn in the crook of my arm to free up my hand. Then I pulled the hat out of my back pocket, flicked it open to fix the brim, and handed it over to Jenna before we entered the theater. The twins were already inside.
“What’s this for?” Jenna asked suspiciously.
“Lice.”
Her eyes widened as she pulled her lips between her teeth.
“Oh, I know all about your phobia, you big weirdo.”
She laughed loudly, head tipping back. “I’m assuming Olivia told you about that since Oliver was too embarrassed. I would like to add, this is not the theater we went to that one time.”
“Still, I’m surprised you’re not prepared.”
“Honestly? I wasn’t planning to sit back at all.”
“Edge of the seat for two hours?” My brow cocked. “Sounds uncomfortable.”
“Or I would’ve stood. I was still debating.”
I chuckled and tipped my chin at the hat. “Now you can sit with her.”
Jenna pressed her lips to Marley’s temple and cupped the back of her head. “I’m going to put you down for two seconds, okay? Maybe three. Can you count for me?” She set Marley on her feet.
“Oneee,” Marley dragged out slowly with her finger raised in front of her face.
“Keep going,” Jenna encouraged. She tucked her hair into the hat and pulled the brim over her eyes before Marley got to three. “Good job counting, baby.” Jenna picked her up again and kissed her.
“You look good,” I said, admiring the hat. It was too big for her and hung over her ears, but she looked cute.
Jenna gazed at me after I spoke like she wanted to say something in return. Then she moved quickly inside the theater.
“Not as good as you do.”
Her compliment stopped me mid-stride. I grinned in the doorway. “What was that?” I called out at her back before breaking into a quick pace. I reached her before she turned the corner to the rows of seating and whispered against her ear, “I love you.”
Jenna’s step faltered, but she recovered without a word or a glance back and rounded the corner, climbing the levels and squeezing down the row. She took her seat next to Oliver. Marley relaxed in her lap.
I sat beside Olivia when she patted the seat on the end.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey. Ready for our date?”
She nodded fast and beamed at me.
We divvied up drinks out of the carrier and passed the bucket of popcorn back and forth down the row. The lights dimmed for previews, and when the movie started and the theater darkened even more, Jenna looked over at me.
I knew because I was already looking.
The movie kept the twins engaged throughout and Marley for close to half. An hour in, she was passed out on Jenna’s chest and stirred awake only when the lights came back on and the crowd stretched and spoke.
I waited for Jenna while Oliver and Olivia walked ahead, giving their opinions of the movie to each other and discussing the plot. From what I gathered, they both enjoyed it.
Jenna met me at the door with Marley sound asleep again. Head on her shoulder and eyes closed.
“Do you want me to take her?” I asked. We walked down the hallway together.
Jenna hugged Marley against her chest. “Not yet.”
Not yet. Not ever, I thought. I wondered if she thought that too.
“Guys! Check out this rain!” Olivia waved us over to where she and Oliver stood at the entrance doors. “It’s a monsoon!”
Jenna and I glanced at each other and then at the people around us, the ones who had just arrived for their show and stood in line to purchase tickets. Water dripped down their faces and nearly soaked their hair. Their clothing clung. Everyone chatted about how suddenly the storm had hit.
“It came out of nowhere!” one woman proclaimed. “We left our umbrellas at home. We had no idea it was supposed to rain.”
“Same with us!” the lady in front of her said.
I stepped up to the glass front and peered outside. Jenna got up beside me.
“Oh my God,” she muttered.
The rain was heavy and thick. It pounded against the pavement and puddled in areas like it had been coming down for hours. A steady stream flowed in front of the sidewalk and curled around a bend.
“This is crazy,” Jenna said. She jolted when thunder cracked above the building. A streak of lightning lit up the sky.
“It’s a monsoon, right?” Olivia asked.
“It’s just a storm,” I said.
“I bet it’s a tornado.” Oliver had his hands cupped to the glass and was peering between them. “Probably suck us up.”
Olivia’s eyes snapped to him. “What?” She looked panicked.
“Oliver,” Jenna said in a warning tone.
“It could be, Mom. Tornados suck people up. It’s what they do.”
“It’s not a tornado.” I got beside Olivia and rubbed her shoulder. “It’s just a storm. We can wait it out.”