19. Liliana
19
LILIANA
“Alright, babe, I’m out,” Tina calls as she grabs her bag for her night shift. “Don’t throw a rager while I’m gone!”
I roll my eyes at her from my spot on the couch, Garfield already planted in my lap. “I have no idea who you’re talking to. My plans tonight consist of Chinese takeout, a laundry list of movies to watch, and Garfield as my snuggle buddy. I am set. ”
At that, Tina sighs. “Okay, yeah, that does sound nice. Now I’m kind of jealous.”
I grin and lift Garfield’s paw to wave her off. “Say bye, auntie !”
“Bye, my beautiful fat nephew,” Tina says, blowing a kiss. “See you in the morning!”
When the door shuts behind her, I start my scroll through Netflix, Prime, then Hulu, looking for the perfect movie to watch. And maybe it’s because I was with Roman at the clinic a few hours ago and so he’s still on my mind, but I find myself flipping over to the horror genre.
The buzzer for my takeout sounds just as I come across the movie he recommended all those weeks ago. Hereditary. The one I said I’ve never seen.
In the time it takes me to collect my food, set it out on a tray, and settle back on the couch, Roman stays on my mind. Because of the movie, but also because of how things have been between us lately. He’s slowly but steadily making progress with his recovery, even more than I could have hoped for. And during his sessions, our banter is still just as easy. We bicker, we tease, I give orders and he bites back. Easy and pleasant, and honestly, I have fun working with him.
We also text after-hours sometimes. Not a lot, but occasionally, when something reminds us of the other.
As I click play on the movie and dig into my food, I find myself wondering what Roman is doing tonight.
Ten minutes and an old woman jump scare later, I’m scrambling for my phone and typing out a text.
Liliana: I hate you
Bubbles form immediately.
Roman: I didn’t think I was THAT bad today
It should be scarier how quickly Roman can make me smile.
Liliana: Not that. I’m watching Hereditary.
Liliana: I just started it and I’m already planning my revenge on you for making me watch this
Roman: Ah come on, it’s not that bad
Liliana: Yes it is. Why are old ladies so scary?
Roman: Ok yea you’re not wrong about that. They really are the most effective way to ratchet the fear factor.
Liliana: I’m going to have to picture sweet little Grandma Davis to get through this
Liliana: Also what is with the damn clicking?
Roman: Lol just keep watching
I still don’t have an answer to my question, but twenty minutes later…
Liliana: ROMAN WHAT THE FUCK
Roman: Hahahaha I was waiting for the all caps
Roman: That movie is insane on so many levels
Liliana: …I hate you.
Roman: Lmao now that text makes sense
I only make it another half hour before I throw all caution to the wind and click Call .
He picks up on the first ring, already laughing.
“How you doing, Doc?”
“This is no laughing matter, Roman Ward,” I whisper-yell. “This movie has every single thing I’m the most scared of. I’ve been watching through my fingers for the past five minutes.”
That only makes him laugh harder. It’s a sound I’ve heard before, but not like this. This is a belly laugh. And it’s the happiest I’ve ever heard him.
“It’s the mom, isn’t it?” he asks.
“ Yes! How is it possible that everything she does makes me physically uncomfortable? And what the fuck is with the sleepwalking?”
“Yeah, she freaks me the fuck out, too,” he says, chuckling. “I couldn’t watch Toni Collette in anything else after this, because as soon as she popped up on the screen, a chill would run through me.” I hear shuffling in the background. “Can you pause and tell me your minute maker?”
My eyebrows pinch. “Are you watching it right now?”
“Yeah. I put it on when you texted me. I kind of know where you are, but if we’re both watching, we might as well sync up.”
I grumble, reaching for the remote. “You just want to anticipate my screams.”
I can hear his grin through the phone. “You know me too well.”
“Just so you know, this counts as extra credit on my end of our deal. I’m going to put you through the workout of hell the next time I see you.”
“Worth it,” he says, chuckling.
Sighing, I tell him, “Alright, I’m at the one hour and ten-minute mark. Ready?”
There’s a small pause as he finds the mark. “Ready. On three. Three, two, one, go.”
I press play and watch as the movie starts again. But I’m distracted now, more interested in my phone than I am the movie.
“What’s your movie snack of choice?” I ask.
He hums thoughtfully, then answers, “I’m a classic guy. So popcorn.”
I let out a snort. “Classic would not be the word I would use to describe you.”
“I don’t think I want to hear the words you would use to describe me,” Roman responds, his tone dry. “Alright, smartass. What’s your movie snack?”
“ Obviously Twizzlers. It’s the best candy at the refreshment stand.”
For a moment, Roman doesn’t say anything. Then he sighs and says, “For someone who’s as big of a health nut as you are, you also have the biggest sweet tooth I’ve ever seen.”
“Excuse me, what am I supposed to eat at the movies? An apple? That would be blasphemous.” Then I frown. “Wait, how do you know I’m a health nut?”
“Liliana, the first thing you did when Fran offered you a protein bar last week was check the ingredients list. Trust me. You’re a health nut.”
“You are such a know-it-all,” I grumble, absentmindedly reaching over to pet Garfield as I shift my gaze back to the TV screen.
He snorts into the phone. “As if your job isn’t to notice every little detail about my behavior and body.”
Thank God, he can’t see me, because my cheeks flame bright red. And now I’m picturing his body, and the way it looked during the workout I put him through today. His legs are getting noticeably more muscular, and I caught myself staring at the striations on his quads more than once.
I’m snapped from my thoughts when the scene on the TV screen finally registers.
“Wait…is that…?”
And then I’m tossing the phone in my hurry to slap my hands over my eyes.
“ Roman! ” I shriek, uncaring that I’m not holding my phone anymore. I’m still loud enough for him to hear. “What the fuck did you make me watch?!”
I can hear his tinny laughter from wherever I threw him. Making sure not to look at the TV, I scramble to the other end of the couch to grab my phone.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want to watch this,” I complain once I’ve lifted it to my ear. “There’s just something about the paranormal stuff that messes with my head. I mean…what was that?!”
There’s that full-bellied laugh again. “Just watch, Liliana.”
“I can’t! ” I whine. “I can’t do people crawling around on the ceiling.” I peek through the quarter inch of space between my fingers and immediately look away with a shudder. “Roman, my limit has been reached. You’re going to have to tell me what’s happening. I can’t watch it anymore.”
“And you call yourself a horror fan,” Roman says with a tsk .
“It’s just this one sub-genre of horror. But fine. Take my fan card, I don’t care. Nothing is worth this.” With my hands still covering my eyes, my ears perk up. I hear a scream, then something banging against a door.
“What is that?” I ask despite myself.
Roman pauses, then asks, “Do you really want to know?”
Another groan, this time as I cover my ear that doesn’t have the phone pressed against it. “This movie is taking away one sense at a time. First my eyesight, now my hearing.”
“Alright, alright, just turn it off. Nothing is worth this.”
“That’s what I’m saying!” I scramble for the remote and quickly hit the Home button.
“Just so you know, you were five minutes from finishing the movie.”
A shiver ripples down my spine. “I am 100% okay with that. I’m already going to have nightmares for the next three days.”
“Will you really?” For the first time, Roman’s voice is tinged with worry.
Sighing, I flip onto my back and stare up at the ceiling. “Probably. It’s fine. I’ve been getting too much sleep lately, anyway.”
“Shit, Liliana, I’m sorry.” He sounds regretful. “I thought you were kidding. I didn’t know it would be that bad for you. I’m a dick, I’m sorry.”
His concern is sweet, and I smile to myself. “Roman, it’s fine. I’m fine. I’m being slightly dramatic.”
I think he’s weighing my words. Finally, he says, “Are you just saying that for my benefit?”
My smile grows. “No, I’m not. Promise.”
“In that case, I hate you back.”
A laugh bubbles past my lips. “I deserve that.”
“Yes, you do,” Roman says, but I can hear the fondness in his voice. “So…what comedy are you turning on to counteract the paranormal horror effects?”
I roll onto my side and glance at the TV. I don’t think I want to watch anything right now. I just want to keep talking to him.
“Probably Friends ,” I lie instead. “That’s my usual feel-good show.”
“Never seen it.”
I gape at my phone before snapping it back to my ear. “Roman, I don’t think we can be friends anymore.”
When he doesn’t respond, I glance at my phone with a frown, wondering if the call dropped. But then I hear the unmistakable sound of the Friends theme song.
“So, what episode is a good one to start with?”
Laughing, I shift into a more comfortable position and settle in to watch the show.
When we finally hang up six episodes later, I fall asleep with a smile on my face and the realization that this was the best Saturday night I’ve had in two years.