Page 12 of Between Then and Now
“What if we get there and you become so focused on filming that you forget to stay out of the way?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“Multitasking is my superpower.” She rolls her eyes. “And I will keep a safe distance from your medical procedures. My camera and I will behave, I swear!”
“What if you get sick all of a sudden?”
“Then I will pop a pill and power through like an adult. You don’t have to babysit me,” she huffs.
“What if you faint at the sight of blood?”
“I’ve watched enough horror movies to be desensitized, Ry. It’s the fake stuff that actually bothers me.” She shrugs.
“What if there’s an emergency and I need you to move?”
“I’ll be a ghost. You won’t even know I’m there.” Her confidence is almost convincing, but I’ve seen her in action before. She’s not exactly subtle.
“What if the equipment is too bulky, and you can’t keep up with us?”
“Now, that’s just offensive. I have portable gear. And I walk fast,” she says.
“And what if–” I start.
“What if,” she interrupts, “you stop worrying and let me do my job? I’ve got this, Miller.” She places her hands on her hips.
I stand up, trying to shake off the lingering doubt. I know she’s capable, but I also know how unpredictable these missions–and Bon–can be. “Just… what if you actually end up needing me?”
“Then I’ll admit defeat and call in the cavalry.” She winks. “But trust me, for the hundredth time, I’ve got this. I promise to be the most professional filmmaker slash wingwoman you’ve ever seen. And you can ignore me for the entire time because I won’t need you, I promise.”
I look at her for a moment as she pouts like a terrified puppy. “Alright. I’ll talk to them,” I say. Bonbon's reaction is instantaneous. She squeals so loudly she sounds like a screeching bird. Before I can even brace myself, she flings her arms around my neck in a tight hug, which almost makes me stumble, but I manage to plant my feet on the ground. She’s still hugging my neck as she lifts her feet in the air and I’m practically carrying her entire weight. I remain unmoving, though, giving her time to celebrate. Her exuberance is overwhelming, and in mere seconds, she’s back on the ground, jumping up and down with glee.
“You won’t regret this, Ryan!” she exclaims, her eyes sparkling with excitement. And then she makes a sound that borders on shrieking.
I can’t help but smile at her infectious enthusiasm. “Just remember to stay focused, alright? This is important.”
“I will, I will!” she says, barely able to contain herself. “I’ve got so many ideas already! Oh my god. This is going to be amazing!”
Just when I think she’s done celebrating, she lunges at me for another hug. This time, I’m caught off guard and stumble backward onto the sofa. She squeals as she tumbles down with me. With her arms still wrapped tightly around my neck, our foreheads collide, making us both wince in pain. Bon immediately pulls one arm away to rub her forehead, which is already turning a shade of red from the impact.
I guess the pain is distracting us both from the fact that she’s now sprawled across my chest, my hands instinctively on her back to keep her from stumbling sideways, and her knees are awkwardly propped between my legs for support.
“Sorry,” she mutters, wincing as she delicately rubs my forehead too. Her hand smells like coconut and berries, and I can’t help but take another whiff. “Aaand… sorry,” she adds sheepishly. With a bit of awkward fumbling, she pushes against my shoulder, using it as leverage to stand up.
She dusts off her clothes like she didn’t just push me to death and then smiles at me so eagerly. I’m still sitting on the couch, staring at her in disbelief.
“You tackled me,” I say, reaching out an arm. She grabs my hand with both of hers as she pulls me up from the couch.
“Pretty weak for a giant man,” she says, tapping my shoulder dramatically. I frown at her and shake my head as we return to the kitchen.
We sit across from Richard and Rob, and we each take a slice of pizza. It reminds me of simpler times when we were kids. Richard, Rob, Bon, Haley, Kate, and Emily would gather to watch movies, with Josh and me reluctantly playing the roles of supervisors. Officially, Josh was in charge, but I was at that age when I wanted to be part of the cool crowd, so I pretended to keep an eye on them too. Pizza nights were always a highlight, with Bon requesting her slice to be topped with odd combinations like crushed nuts or whatever caught her fancy that day.
Glancing over at Bon's pizza slice now, I notice she’s added raw tomatoes on top of her melted cheese. It’s an unusual choice that makes my stomach turn a bit, but it also reassures me that even when most of us have changed and moved away, some things remain the same.
“So, how’s long distance, Rob?” Richard asks as he opens a can of beer.
“I barely talk to Emily these days, but she’s busy and I understand,” Rob replies.
Bon, who has been quietly munching on her unconventional pizza, eyes him suspiciously. She takes another bite, her gaze still fixed on Rob. “Do you?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “Because Emily is always talking to me, you know.”
Rob looks taken aback, the casual mask slipping for a moment. “Really? She never mentioned that.”
