Krystal
I didn’t make the same mistake I did yesterday.
Dressed in a cozy sweater dress, pleather leggings, and my UGGs — I’m a picture of comfort.
Tonight, we’re watching Last Holiday at the Old Crescent Theater.
Every corner of the place is vintage; it feels like there’s a tungsten veil pulled over my eyes when we walk through the door.
“Raiya!” Eden exclaims when she sees Gayle and Jiraiya.
I tug on Nick’s arm, pulling him down to my height so I can speak lowly.
“That’s the author!” There’s only so much to do around the B she’s probably perfectly nice and down to earth, but the words I’ve read in this book don’t match this doe-eyed, curly-haired human doll I’m watching now.
He hums again, rocking back on his heels and moving up in the line to collect our popcorn. Then, he spins around, waving obnoxiously as he yells. “‘Scuse me!”
I pinch the bridge of my nose; my cheeks burn with humiliation as he waves them over. Jiraiya, Gayle, Eden, and another guy walk over with curious expressions, waiting for what comes next.
He swallows his laughter as I smile bashfully at each of them. “Krystal is reading your book,” he says, as even-toned as possible considering he’s on the brink of hysterics.
Eden clasps two pink-gloved hands together as she offers me an earnest smile. My heart thrums. “She’d like you to sign it,” Nick says.
My eyes turn to saucers as I look at him, then back to them.
“Actually,” I wince, “this is the bed and breakfast’s copy…and it’s already signed.”
Gayle looks up at Jiraiya with laughter in her eyes, and Nick covers his mouth to hide his as he looks away. Eden giggles brightly but doesn’t take her eyes off mine. “You should keep it. I can give them a new copy,” she says.
I look between her and Gayle, who nods silently, a sympathetic smile hiding on her lips.
“Here,” Eden says, “I’ll make it out to you so it’s really yours.”
“Oh,” I say, reaching for the paperback and handing it to her. “Thank you.”
“Oooh, Tempo,” she coos, “one of my favorites.”
My heart simmers to a steady beat when I turn back to the line. I grab Nick by the elbow and yank him to my level. “I’m going to make you pay for that, Nicholas Saint,” I warn him.
“Wait,” Eden pokes her head on the other side of my shoulder. “I’m sorry, did you just say Nicholas Saint? Like, the director?”
Nick’s brow shoots up, the question of where this conversation might go lined in the wrinkles of his forehead. “Filmmaker, yeah?”
“Oh, we just got your documentary into the library’s catalog this summer. I cried the first time I watched it,” she says. “It’s an honor to meet you. I’m a huge fan of your work.”
Nick’s energy mellows into a cool, somber darkness.
I lace my arm through his elbow and hold his hand.
His thumb skates across the fleshy part of my palm, between my index finger and thumb, as he discusses Epitaph with Eden.
She doesn’t ask him anything insensitive or too much detail about his son or wife, but his mood has deflated.
“Babe,” the guy she came with calls her over to the other side of the counter, where she orders her snacks for the movie.
“You okay?” I ask Nick.
He pushes a sigh through pursed lips. “Yeah, yeah…I just wasn’t expecting that.”
I nod. “I watched some of it too,” I announce.
“Yeah?” He confirms, his brightened tone pulling a reassuring smile to my lips.
“You were right there in bed next to me.”
“And you didn’t wake me up?” The laughter in his voice returns, makes my heart skip a beat.
“I didn’t realize I was supposed to,” I smile up at him.
“What did you think?” He follows.
“I think…I think you deserve the world,” I sigh.
He looks down at me, his eyes glassy and his smile subtle. “I think I found something better.” He brings my knuckles to his soft lips and lays a feather-light kiss on my skin. Goosebumps travel up my arm and make their way all over my body. Under his fervent gaze, I feel something shift inside me.
“I don’t want this to end,” I admit, my voice barely audible. His eyes light up like a Christmas tree, his grip on my hand tightens, and I lose my breath watching the smile that overwhelms his face.
“Who says it has to?”