Page 38 of A Better Place

Beautiful: You said you wouldn’t judge me!

Me: I’m not! I promise! That’s what I’m watching, too!

Beautiful: Nuh-uh.

Me: Oh yeah. The Gallaghers have sucked me into their crazy world and I can’t seem to stop.

Beautiful: Right? It’s like a bad car wreck! I can’t look away!

Me: Exactly!

I sit and watch a drunken Frank do something to screw over his family once again, only to say something that makes me burst out laughing.

Me: So what episode are you on?

Beautiful: I’m in season 4, episode 2.

Me: Oooh you’re just a few behind me.

Beautiful: No spoilers!

I smirk at how serious she is. This show is so addicting it’s ridiculous. For about two seconds, I consider my next words then decide to hell with it and go for it.

Me: I wouldn’t dream of it. But you know…

Beautiful: I know what?

Me: If two friends wanted to watch it together, we wouldn’t have to worry about giving each other spoilers.

Beautiful: And we’d have someone to chat about it with. Clearly I can’t watch this with Jack.

Me: That’s a beta rice. ;)

Beautiful: Ha ha ha ha! Oh my gosh! LOL

I smile just picturing how she giggles. I’ve already learned she has several different laughs: one when she’s embarrassed (which I hear quite often); one when she’s nervous (which she also does a lot around me); one when she’s happy, one when she thinks something is funny. Her happy laugh? That’s my favorite. It’s when she has let her guard down completely, like she started to do last night. She throws her head back and her deep brown eyes crinkle in the corners.

My knee bobs up and down several times, wondering what she’s thinking. She did follow up with her own benefit to watching it together, but it may be her making small talk, I suppose.

After a few minutes of waiting and no other response, I decide to bite the bullet.

Me:So, what do you say? Want to watch Shameless together?

Beautiful:I don’t know

I like that, an honest answer. But what I like even better is that it’s not a no.

Me:How about this. You get caught up to the same episode I’m on and if you want to watch the next episode after that with me, you let me know?

There. Ball is in her court.

I watch as the three bubbles pop up and go away again. I’m likely to blow my knee out with as much bouncing as it’s doing.

Finally, she responds.

Beautiful:That sounds perfect.

I don’t know exactly what she’s saying sounds perfect — watching together or her letting me know — but either way, it’s communication, and I can definitely live with that.

Me:Have a good night, Beautiful Carly.

Beautiful:You too, Captain.

I’m not even ashamed to say that I throw a fist in the air.

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