Page 81 of How to Blow It with a Billionaire

“You have?” The possibility hadn’t even occurred to me. But he did travel a lot—maybe he’d caught it on a plane.

“Yes, I watched it with my father when it first came out. He was quite fanatical about the series.”

I loved it when Caspian spoke about his father. Trusting me with the fragile origami of his memories. But at the same time, I didn’t want to appear morbidly eager for dead-parent-related entertainment. So I went with a casually encouraging “Yeah?”

“Mm.” Caspian smiled, one of his sweetest, rarest smiles. “The original film came out when he was about sixteen. He called it his first love.”

“I guess it’s pretty cool I mean, for a movie from the seventies.”

“He always said that, like Bertrand Russell, three great passions ruled his life. Us—Eleanor and I—our mother, and Star Wars.”

I suddenly remembered the dedication I’d seen in one of Caspian’s books. And felt a bit sorry for all my love, L since they apparently ranked below George Lucas in Arthur Hart’s affections. Which was when another important thought occurred to me. “So how did he find The Phantom Menace then?”

“Well. He did not quite burn George Lucas in effigy. But from that day forth his life was ruled by two great passions.”

I laughed. Then winced. Then remembered why I’d suggested Star Wars in the first place. “Caspian. You do know there’s, like, new new Star Wars, right? And it doesn’t suck.”

“Really?”

“Yep. Nobody says anything about midi-chlorians. And no trade routes are even remotely in dispute.”

“That does sound rather more like the Star Wars my father enjoyed.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

He gave a slightly self-conscious shrug. “His enthusiasm was always infectious. Much like yours, Arden.”

If you’d asked me, as a general principle, how I felt about being compared to deceased parents, the answer would probably have been Not so great, actually. But in this case? I was oddly touched. Showing Caspian how to enjoy things was a good trait to share with someone he loved. On the other hand, maybe Star Wars wasn’t the best choice in this particular context.

“Would you rather watch something else? Because I’m always up for Disney.”

“No, no. Star Wars is fine.”

Fine: the answer dreams were made of.

But it turned out to be a lie, anyway, because Caspian clearly was not fine about Star Wars. He was enthralled. He tried to hide it but he literally gasped when the music kicked in. It was beyond adorable.

It belatedly occurred to me that I should have warned him I’m a terrible person to watch movies with—I kind of, somehow, can’t stop talking through them. Which is not, well, it’s not ideal, is it? But, actually, while there were lots of things I could have said, I didn’t, in the end, say any of them.

Because I didn’t want to spoil anything for Caspian.

And, for me, watching him was better than watching the movie. It wasn’t what I would have pictured at all. But, then, doing something like this with Caspian had always been a daydream I’d never really believed would happen, so my imagination had been hazy on the details. I guess I’d been expecting his usual careful detachment: an elegant man bathed in the silver light of a screen. What I got was a boy’s wide-eyed wonder. A delight in TIE fighters, Wookiees, and lightsabers that might have started as affection for his father but was now entirely his own.

And he was sharing it with me.

The pizza came and went, and he barely noticed. And, once I’d got rid of the box, he let me rearrange the duvet over us both—for maximum coze—and squeeze right up against him. I even got to wriggle my hand into his. I didn’t think I’d ever liked Star Wars quite as much as I did right then. I felt half drunk on his pleasure. My heart huge and soft and raw and wobbly.

Oh God. Was I in love? This vast feeling soaring and wheeling inside me. Surely it was love.

When the credits rolled, Caspian turned to me, his eyes oddly shiny in the flicking light, and murmured: “I wish my father could have seen that. But I’m so glad I got to watch it with you.”

And now my heart was mush. Just red mush spilling everywhere. “Caspian.” Overcome with happiness and too-big emotions, I flung my arms around him and covered him with hysterical kisses.

He seemed a bit surprised but only reined me in a little bit.

I paused briefly in my frenzy. “Thank you for tonight. I loved watching Star Wars with you.” And, in case I was overdoing it and getting scary, I added, “You big nerd.”

“How dare you.” He subjected me to his most billionaire-y look, only for it to be undermined by the light in his eyes and the laughter lurking at the edges of his lips. “I simply commit fully to my every undertaking.”

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