Page 29 of The Off-Limits Play

“What was the last movie you watched?”

His left shoulder hitches. “Can’t remember.”

“Liar.” I shake my head. “My last movie wasTotal Recallbecause I know you’re wondering.”

Scratching his stubble, he tries and fails to look disinterested. “Which version?”

“1990, of course. Is there another one?”

He smirks, and I swear I’m seconds away from getting a real smile out of him. “If you’re into Arnie, you’re better off withPredator.”

“I don’t know, I’d probably have to give top place toTerminator, thenPredator. And if you tell anyone this, I will slay you… but I’ve kind of got a soft spot forTrue Lies. But that’s just because Jamie Lee Curtis is a freaking legend. I love her.”

“Huh.” He nods. “I thought you were going to sayKindergarten Cop, and then I would have had to laugh in your face.”

I gasp. “You know how to laugh?”

His side-eye is nothing but scathing, but I can see those lips of his fighting a grin. After a beat, he gruffly mutters, “I’ll let you haveTrue Lies. It’s not half bad.”

My smile is broad as I nudge him with my elbow. “You surprise me.”

“Why?”

“Because I thought your grumpy ass would be into dark, emo movies, but you’re vibing action flicks from the ’80s and ’90s, man. How did you even get into them?”

He shrugs and shakes his head.

It’s obvious he’s not telling me something, and I really want to know if he’s got some super-cool grandma the way I do. Someone to sit and watch old movies with. She always says I got my love of all things ’80s and ’90s from her because those were her favorite decades, and I obviously inherited her best genes.

Like it even works that way.

But still, I’ll take it. I love how I walk the same frequency as Gramma. Without her, my recovery would have been so much longer and slower. Then again, she started on my movie education from the moment I was old enough to watch them. Each year, I’ve graduated to her next level, and she’s shown me something new from her ever-growing list of “must-sees.”

I wonder who Carson knows like that.

I wonder if I can convince him to watch some movies with me.

My phone beeps, and I check the screen. My Uber has been delayed and will be here in five.

Sweet. Not gonna complain about that. Even though I’m starting to freeze, it’ll give me a chance to redeem this night and make a bold move. Because that’s what this school year has to be about. Bold moves and the chance to actually live again.

“So, you know…” I lick the edge of my mouth. “The Lido is doing a sci-fi and fantasy movie month. They’ve got old films playing throughout November… if you want to go to one.”

“I have an away game this weekend.”

“I know.” I nod. “But there’s a home game the week after that, right? And I know you’re free on Sundays.”

He clears his throat, looking to the ground with a wince. “Yeah, but I shouldn’t.”

“Shouldn’t what?”

“Go to the movies with you.”

I frown, crossing my arms and wishing he would face me properly. “Why?”

“Because your dad will bench me for life, and then he’ll probably kill me.”

I roll my eyes, sticking out my tongue. “It’s just the movies, Carson.”

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