Page 31 of Taken Off Camera
I carry my coffee back to bed, settling cross-legged with my back propped on my pillows as another text arrives.
Sebastian
Looking forward to tonight. 8 PM still works?
The confirmation for our virtual date sets off a flurry of butterflies in my stomach, which is ridiculous for someone who performs intimate acts for strangers online. Yet here I am, excited about watching a movie together through a video call.
Micah
Absolutely.
Still can’t believe you’re obsessed with romantic comedies.
Sebastian
It’s soothing knowing how the story ends. Real life rarely offers such certainty.
The depth of his response catches me off guard.
Micah
Fair point.
Still need you to prove this obsession is real.
Sebastian
Challenge accepted. When Jimmy Met Henry remains the pinnacle of the genre.
Where will you order dinner from? I’ll do the same, so we’re eating together.
Micah
Bamboo Garden? They have a great Chef’s Special Chow Mein.
Sebastian
Sounds delicious.
That flutter grows into a hurricane, and I wish we were talking instead of texting.
Micah:You’ve set a high bar for the movie. It better deliver.
Sebastian
It will.
I’ll place our orders around 7 to ensure they arrive for both of us during the opening credits.
I stare at his text, fingers hovering over my keyboard. The thoughtfulness of his planning reveals more than any explicit confession could. He cares about the small details, like the timing of food delivery, my preferences, and the perfect moment to start the film.
Before I can stop myself, my fingers fly over the keyboard.
Micah
Or you could pick it up yourself and come over?—
Before I can hit enter, the click of my apartment door interrupts my thoughts, and I startle, nearly dropping my phone. Only one person has a key, besides me.
