Page 77 of #Moonstruck

Ignoring her implication, I said, “I’m going to visit my mom tomorrow. Do you want to get dinner after that? And maybe hang out with me at the USMAs rehearsals? If you can get the time off?”

“I can probably take one sick day this week, but that’s it. Your timing is perfect, though. Hector’s parents asked to keep the baby for the next few days, so I’m free to hang out and do whatever. I would love to have dinner and go to some rehearsals! And make sure your man’s good enough for you.”

There was no point in rolling my eyes since she couldn’t see me. “Sounds good. I’ll text you later with the details.”

“I’m assuming your lover boy is nearby, but when we’re alone, you will tell me about that song and that kiss because I completely died when I saw it.”

“Talk to you later!” I said, not knowing if Ryan could hear her or not. She tended to be loud on the phone.

“What did Angie have to say?” Ryan asked as I sat back down.

Nothing I could repeat to him. “We planned to have dinner tomorrow night.” I have no idea what possessed me to add on, “Do you want to come?”

“Yeah. That sounds fun.”

“Bring Fox. I want him and Angie to get married.”

“Do they know that?”

“They do, but they’re being stubborn.” I told him about Hector and how he and Fox had served together. And all the cute little glances I’d observed between them the night Ryan and I met, and how Fox didn’t deny that he had feelings for her.

We finished eating, and Ryan asked if I wanted more. I told him I was stuffed, and after I thanked him for the meal, I got up to clear the plates.

“What are you doing?” he asked. “You’re my guest.”

“You ‘cooked’ and served; I wash up. That’s how it works.”

Which consisted of rinsing off our plates and forks and sticking them in the dishwasher while Ryan packed up the rest of the casserole. We were being so domestic, and it felt ... strangely natural. Not like we were playing house. Like it was the real thing. As if we’d done this a million times before and would do it a million more.

“I’m kind of beat,” Ryan said. “Feel like watching a movie and then turning in?”

“Sure. If I get to pick.” Our bus choices had been mainly his favorites since it was his bus and his movies. He really liked movies about music stars and explosions, and old black-and-whites.

I dried my hands and followed him into the living room. He logged me in to the streaming service attached to his TV, and I chose one of my favorites,Say Anything. “Have you seen this before?” I asked.

“Nope.”

“That should be listed in the Geneva Convention as a crime against humanity,” I told him. “One of the greatest movies ever. My mom used to watch it religiously. Sometimes when I visit her, we just sit and watch it together. It’s like the 1980s answer toRomeo and Juliet.”Say Anythingdidn’t come out until after my mom had graduated from high school, so at every viewing it was like she was seeing it for the first time.

He leaned against the couch, and without overthinking things, I cuddled into his side. His arm went around my shoulders.

Ryan, however, did not seem impressed with the movie, not even during the pivotal boom-box scene, where Lloyd Dobler stood outside Diane Court’s house, willing her to remember how important “In Your Eyes” was. He wouldn’t let her forget what it had meant to both of them. He was expressing his devotion through that song.

“Why didn’t he try getting her flowers?” Ryan whispered, and I hushed him. He was silent for only a few moments before he added, “Take away what I assume is the happy ending, and this is just a restraining order waiting to happen.”

I paused the movie, irritated. “You’re saying that only because you have actual stalkers. This is romantic. He’s serenading her. Like they used to do back in olden times. Telling her he loves her. That he’s willing to make a fool of himself to win her back. Are you planning on watching the movie, or are you just going to annoy me?”

In an attempt to calm me down, he gently kissed my forehead and said, “I can do both. Because wouldn’t his arms get tired? That thing looks heavy.”

I elbowed him in the side and instructed him to be quiet. He chuckled. He did manage to keep his comments to himself and let me enjoy the rest of the movie.

When it was over, I told him I was tired. He walked me upstairs and stopped outside my room. “Are you upset with me?”

“Not upset. Aggravated.” I’d get over it. My brothers aggravated me on a daily basis. I was kind of a pro at dealing with it. “I loveSay Anything. I was hoping you would, too.”

“We don’t have to like all the same things. If anything, our differences will make things exciting. I do think it’s funny that a hard-core rocker chick like you would be such a fan of a romance.”

“I like romance,” I said, feeling a bit insulted. “My music doesn’t define everything about me. I like all kinds of romantic stuff. Movies. Books.”

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