Page 47 of The Pursuit of Happiness

My doorbell rings and I jolt, racing down the stairs with nervousness swirling around in my stomach like an ocean in a storm. I wear a matching lounge set, a navy blue t-shirt and matching cargo sweatpants, my hair pulled into a low ponytail at the base of my neck. I rush down the stairs in anticipation so quickly that I miss the last two steps and nearly eat the floor, but I stabilize myself by pressing a hand on the wall.

I nearly sprint to the door and open it slowly, taking a deep breath and preparing myself to feign nonchalance. When I open it and see his perfect face on the other side, I nearly crumble on wobbly legs. Why does he have to be so gorgeous?

He flashes me his signature panty melting grin and greets, “Hey.”

“Hey,” I smile, opening the door wider for him to enter.

He steps inside and I take the opportunity to absorb his appearance. He wears a pair of gray sweatpants, if you know you know, and a Prada sweatshirt. I close the door behind him and immediately start with, “I have a horror movie you need to watch.”

He raises a brow, “Oh really?”

I nod, “Yes. Come with me,” I gesture with my hand for him to follow as I begin walking down the foyer and to the home movie theater. I set up the newestScreammovie that didn’t even come out yet. How I got my hands on this film before the release, you ask? Well, I will have you know I am very close friends with the directors.

“What movie is it?” Once we make it into the theater, I grin as his eyes take in the title screen. He gives me a surprised look, “I thought this wasn’t coming out for another couple of months?”

I preen, “It doesn’t, but I’m friends with the directors, so we get to see it before everyone else.”

He nods in approval, his brow raising in respect, “I’m impressed by your hustle.”

“Please, if you think that’s cool, I get invited to every horror movie premier,” I brag, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

He laughs, “Well, you’ve gotten me into these movies now so if you ever need a date to one of those, I’d be happy to join.”

The word “date” lingers in the air between us and when he sees the look on my face he frowns, rejection evident in his eyes along with only a sadness that I can cause him. “I’d like that,” I smile weakly, sincerity in my voice.

His eyes practically light up as a smile coasts his features.

We manage to watch the movie in its entirety, Kiko and Taz joining us somewhere in the middle of the film. We sit relatively close to each other on the couch. Okay, not relatively. We sit close to each other. My leg practically pressed against hisleg the entire time. Okay, and we shared a blanket. I know, I know! I can’t help it sometimes. He just makes it so annoyingly impossible for me to abide by my own rules.

When the movie ended we sat and talked for a little about other horror movies. It seems he’s really broadened his horizons and watched a bunch of horror movies. He said he did it so that we could talk about them and the sentiment makes me blush and swoon.

Now, we still talk about some of our iconic favorites. “Okay, Michael Myers? What’s with him being like, super-human?” I ask, rolling my eyes. I prefer Michael Myers in the older movies before things got twisted and confusing about his character.

Sly’s brows pull together, “I was thinking the same thing. I almost wish they didn’t make the new movie.”

I nod my agreement, “What did you think about theNightmare on Elm Streetremake?”

He takes a moment to consider before shrugging, “It was decent. I prefer the original. It’s more iconic even though the prosthetics and special effects makeup suck.”

I clap my hands together, “Yes! Finally someone who agrees. Everyone says the remake is better, but what ever happened to nostalgia? I refuse to add any memorabilia from the new movie to my Horror room.”

Sly tilts his head at me in confusion, “Horror room?”

I laugh, “That’s what I call my bedroom.”

The confused look never settles, “Why do you call it that?”

I smirk and decide that showing and not telling is probably the best bet if I want to do the horror room justice. I rise off the recliner and start to exit the movie theater, Kiko and Taz jumping off the couch to follow, “Follow me.”

I don’t give him time to ask a question or say anything as I hurry out of the movie room and upstairs. I hear his heavier footsteps behind me and realize I’m leading Sly to my bedroom.Aria, this is not what we talked about. The little angel on my shoulder scolds. The devil responds,Aria, it’s okay! We know you won’t do anything bad.

I ignore both voices and continue up the stairs and to my bedroom. When my hand lands on the knob, I turn to look at Sly who has a nervous, anxious expression on his face. I feel my cheeks burn with nerves. Why are we both so visibly nervous to enter my bedroom?

“Consider yourself very special because the only people who have ever been allowed in the horror room are Brody, Ivory, and Selene.”

He raises a brow, “I’m alarmed that you call it that. Is this where you chain me up and murder me in some kind of reenactment of one of your horror movies?”

I roll my eyes, “No, Sly.” I open the door and take a step inside before looking over my shoulder, “Tying you up and killing you would be boring. I’d prefer a moreHouse of Waxapproach where I could preserve you and stage you to play the drums for all of eternity,” I joke, feigning wickedness in my voice.

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