Page 14 of New Year, New Baby
Fortunately, none of the above happens.Instead,Deadpool and Wolverineconcludes, and the lights slowly come back on.I sneak a quick look at Stan’s lap, and to my relief, his boner seems to have subsided.There’s just a tiny knob remaining now, and I smile at Stan before giving his hand one last squeeze.
“Wow, what a movie!”I exclaim.“Thanks for inviting me.”
“Sure,” Stan nods while getting up.“I thought you’d like it, Nova.I didn’t want you to get too scared, but you know I’ll always protect you.”
I pause because I didn’t know I was giving off damsel in distress vibes.But I merely smile again as we make our way out of the theater.
“Well, thanks for inviting me,” I repeat in a bright tone as we stroll down the carpeted hallway and towards the escalators.“I had a great time!”
“Thanks, I had a good time too,” Stan says.“And you look amazing tonight,” he adds in a shy tone, ducking his head.“I love the skirt.You never dress like this at school.”
I laugh a little, tossing my hair back.
“I think La Salle would run me off campus if I wore this get-up to class.Can you imagine?Most girls wear hoodies and baggy jeans, including me.”
“But you lookamazing,” Stan emphasizes, his blue eyes sliding across to leer at my tits before dropping to my boots.“I especially like those shoes.They remind me of Puss In Boots.You know, the cat from the fairytale?”
I giggle a little because this is so ridiculous.
“You mean, the one who wears a pirate cap with a feather in it?Was he or she actually a pirate?I can’t remember.”
“Beats me,” Stan says, shaking his head as we exit the theater.“Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t.I just know he had a rapier that he’d brandish like he was about to jump into a duel.And the big boots,” he says, shooting another sideways look at my thigh-highs.“I didn’t know that big boots could look likethat.”
I’m just about to make another funny quip when suddenly, a looming figure steps forth from the shadows.
“Nova,” a deep voice calls.
I come to a stop, staring into the blazing blue eyes of my stepfather.
“Hunter?”I ask in a surprised voice.“What are you doing here?”
The huge man smiles, although the light doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I was watching a movie,” he says in a smooth tone.
“Oh really?”I ask, a bit suspiciously.“Which one?”
But Hunter doesn’t miss a beat.
“Joker,” he says.“It was good.”
I want to quiz him more because there’s something suspicious about this.How is it that during my date with Stan, my stepfather randomly shows up at the same theater, among the millions of theaters in New York City?And at the same time too?Plus, how did Hunter just “happen” to be randomly outside, waiting when our movie ended?
But I can’t quiz the alpha male about the plot because everyone knows what the movie’s about, even if you haven’t watched it.TheBatmanfranchise is just too popular, and everyone knows that Joker is Batman’s legendary nemesis.
I decide to play it cool.
“Well, it’s such a pleasant surprise bumping into you,” I say politely to my stepfather.“Have a good night.”
“Have a good night—” Stan echoes beside me, looking somewhat lean and twig-like next to the massive bulk of my stepdad.But Hunter’s not done with us yet.He smiles toothily, almost like a grimace, and then holds something up in the air.
“I stopped by the drugstore on the way to the theater tonight,” he drawls.“I have your hemorrhoid cream for you, Nova.”
I sputter.
“I don’t have—!”
But Hunter cuts me off, shrugging, as he turns to Stan.
