Page 38 of Between Then and Now
Shit. “Yeah. Just nervous,” I lie, taking another step back. The truth is I’m not nervous. I’m severely uncomfortable, though. “Sorry, I–”
Alexa laughs it off and says, “Bon told me you struggle when talking to someone you like. So, I’m taking this as a compliment.” She steps back too and continues, “Maybe next time, then. See you next Saturday?”
What? Bon told her? When did they talk about me? And why did she tell Alexa? I shake my head as I say, “Yeah, see you then.” Alexa retreats to her room, and I’m left standing in the hallway.
I breathe a sigh of relief that would’ve offended her if she were still here, and slowly walk away. It’s not supposed to feel like this. I’m not supposed to feel… nothing. But I am, and I have no idea what that means for me, for Alexa, or for whatever comes next.
As I approach Room 8, I realize something weird and strangely confusing. It’s the most excited I’ve felt all day.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Bonita
Iam acting like a worried wife waiting for her husband to come home. I’m practically glued to the door, sneaking peeks out of the window like a character in a soap opera, hoping Ryan will magically materialize on the beachfront. Even Puppy is following me around as I pace. Ever since our practice date, I’ve been keeping a polite distance. Avoiding Ryan was my grand plan, my way of keeping my emotions neatly tucked away. But honestly, seeing him get ready earlier today somehow restarted me and my emotions. I’m not as conflicted as I was anymore. I promise. I’m totally fine now. I swear.
He likes Alexa, and I’m here to help them hit it off. And today is their first date. I’m supposed to be the supportive wingwoman I claimed I was going to be. So, I imagine their evening together—Ryan’s charmingly awkward attempts at flirtation, Alexa’s radiant smile, and the way they might bond over dinner, sharing stories that make their hearts race just a little faster. And I try my very best to be absolutely happy for them.
And since I’m absolutely, one hundred percent happy for them, I’m going to accept the fact that Ryan might not even come back tonight. Because, obviously, a good date will end with them together for a longer period.
All these thoughts make it hard for me to go to sleep. I toss and turn like a human maraca. I try to convince myself it’s all perfectly normal—the anxiety of seeing someone you care about go on a date with someone else. It’s just my friendly overprotectiveness and my love for gossip that’s keeping me awake, waiting for him.
I come to the conclusion that there is no way I’d sleep right now, so I take out my laptop and scan through the movies I downloaded before the trip. Every time things are getting intense in my brain, I like watching horror movies alone. No, not because I’m brave or actually enjoy it. But for some reason, it really helps distract me from my thoughts. The anticipation of the jump scares keeps me distracted, and the adrenaline rush somehow overrides my own anxieties. Not to mention, watching the characters face life-or-death situations makes my own problems seem smaller in a way. Like a weird form of therapy.
So, I take my microwave popcorn to the inn’s shared pantry and pour the contents into a bowl. I settle into bed, laptop propped up, and start a movie I’ve seen a dozen times–Annabelle. Just as the first jump scare happens, I jump too, but not because of the movie. The sound of the door opening startles me so much that I scatter popcorn all over my bed. “Holy Annabelle!” I exclaim, clutching my chest as I pause the movie. I look at the door and see Ryan standing there, equally shocked.
“Oh my god, it’s just you,” I say, my heart still racing.
“Who else would it be?” Ryan asks, looking genuinely confused.
“A demon-possessed doll or something,” I reply, waving a hand at the paused image of Annabelle on the screen. “So, how’s the big date?”
“Demon-possessed doll? Where did that come from?” he asks, glancing at the laptop and then back at me.
I roll my eyes playfully. “It’s from the movie I was watching. You know, horror stuff.” I hold up my laptop to show him what I’m watching. “Anyway, how did it go with Alexa?” I ask again, hoping I don’t sound overeager.
“It was… okay,” he says, plopping himself on the bed to remove his shoes. “I don’t really have any stories because honestly, nothing happened. It was just dinner, and that’s it,” he says as he stares at me with an expression I can’t quite comprehend. I don’t know why I feel relieved to hear that their date was uneventful, and it’s also confusing because Ryan doesn’t even look disappointed.
“Oh? No sparks flying and birds chirping?” I ask.
Ryan shakes his head, looking a bit puzzled. “No, it was just... normal. We talked, we ate, and then we went our separate ways. I guess I expected something more exciting.”
“Maybe you’re just nervous and overthinking it,” I suggest. “First dates can be awkward. The next one will probably be better.”
“Right. The next one.” Ryan says as he stands up to make his way to the bathroom. “By the way, what are you doing watching horror movies alone at night?” He is standing at the door frame, about to go inside, when he turns to me.
I shrug. “Nothing, just keeps me distracted and calm,” I say, hoping I don’t sound obvious about what I need distraction from.
“Really? Horror movies help you calm down?” Ryan asks, pulling off his shirt and changing into pajamas. He doesn’t bother closing the door, and for a split second, I catch sight of his toned physique, and, well, it’s pretty much confirmed—he’s ripped. The minions from hell are not going easy on me tonight.
“Yeah, I know it sounds weird,” I admit, starting to clear up the popcorn debris from my bed so I can shift my attention anywhere except Ryan’s body.
“It’s the least weird thing about you, Bon,” Ryan says as he pulls a clean shirt over his head and shuffles back over to mybed. He sits down beside me, our arms brushing against each other, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. I instinctively move to one side of the bed to give him space.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, suddenly very aware of how close we are.
“Testing out your theory. I need the distraction too,” he says as he grabs a handful of popcorn from my bowl and shoving it in his mouth like he’s been starving for hours.
“Why? What happened on your date that was so bad you needed a distraction?” I ask, genuinely curious.
