Page 30 of Space Oddities

“This really what you want to watch?” Ian points the remote at the TV, clicking through Netflix until he finds the show I asked to binge.

I pluck a crab wonton from the container on the floor, dipping it in the sweet and sour sauce. “You said I could pick.”

He watches my mouth as I bite. “I did, I did. I just didn’t know you were going to go all foreign film nerd on me.”

I push the wanton to the side of my mouth before I correct him. “That’s aromanticforeign film nerd.” Finishing the bite, I deftly grab some noodles with my chopsticks. “And this is a series, not a film. So if you hate it, it will only be an hour of your life, not two.”

We settle back against the front of the couch. I’m not sure if Ian didn’t want to chance spilling food on his expensive furniture or if he prefers sitting on the floor, but when I came downstairs from my bath he had already dragged the coffee table out of the way and was laying down blankets and pillows on the floor. Which he then topped with a vast array of cardboard food containers. Buffet style. It reminds me of the food truck park.

I allow myself to slouch slightly to the side until my shoulder touches his arm. I’m getting too comfortable around him, but I can’t seem to stop myself. It’s like his house is an isolated bubble, free of my past and worries. Or maybe it’s just him.

From the corner of my eye, I see him smile at me before grabbing an eggroll. “This is a Korean show?”

I maneuver chopsticks in my lo mein, picking up a bite of chicken. “Yep. It’s been all over my Instagram feed, or rather Audrey Cole’s Instagram feed. All my readers and fellow authors love it.”

The beginning credits roll, my heart fluttering when Hyun Bin enters the screen. He is thebest. I sigh and shimmy happily in my spot.

Ian snorts. “So what’s the premise?” He stabs into his container of mango chicken with a fork.

“A South Korean woman has a paragliding accident and crash lands in North Korea, where a soldier helps her hide while finding her a way back home. And of course, along the way, they fall in love.”

He nods, looking genuinely interested. “Cool,” he says around his food. Swallowing, he grins at me. “Then there’ll be soldiers.”

I laugh. “Hate to break it to you, but none of my followers mentioned any action scenes.”

Ian winks, looking seriously handsome even with sauce on his chin. “One can always hope for some action.”

I choke on lo mien.

Ian claps my back until I’m under control again. He continues rubbing, causing my mind to remember where else he’s rubbed me today. He hasn’t mentioned our al fresco make-out session since I woke up sprawled on top of him. But he isn’t awkward, just… cautious. Like he doesn’t want to break the moment. Which I feel bad about. All my secrets stacked up between us. He deserves more, and I’m selfishly taking without giving back.

He hasn’t even questioned me about my past, not even when I mentioned Audrey Cole’s Instagram.

Ian leans forward, surveying his choices before picking up a container of cashew chicken. “I wonder if I’ll be able to speak Korean after this?”

I scoff, thankfully my mouth empty of food. “You think after watchingaK-drama you’re going to be fluent?”

He only has time to shrug before I wave him quiet when the theme song ends. I’m not usually a talker during movies, but with subtitles you really can’t look away from the screen or you’ll get lost.

* * *

Three hours later,our dinner containers are gone, and we’re cuddling in a nest of pillows and blankets.

“Another?” Ian struggles up from our cocoon and reaches for the remote. He looks so eager.

“You really like it, huh?” I stretch, circling my ankles.

“Ye.” He winks.

Laughing, I roll my eyes. “You think because you know how to say yes in Korean, you’re fluent?”

“Amado.”

My mouth drops open. “Are you serious?”

Chuckling he drops back down on the pillows. “Nah. I just picked up some phrases.”

Still on my back, I drop my head to the side to look at him. “In three hours?”

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