Page 11 of The Truth About You and Me
‘And I came to see a movie, which, I’m told, is dreamy.’
‘You were told correctly.’ I don’t let my eyes drop to her lower lip, which she tugs with her incisor.
‘And, it would be a shame if I didn’t find out if the mechanic chooses the drummer or the mean girl.’
‘It would. A real shame.’ Maggie’s on the verge of a smile, but it’s guarded. She wraps her arms around herself. ‘If we’re going to do this, I need to explain something, Jack. You seem like a good guy and’ – a small smile – ‘everything, but I’m not… available. And it’s not that I don’t think you’re hot, because you definitelyare.’
‘Good to know.’
‘But when I say I can’t be around people? It’s not like I don’t like people or anything, on the whole people are pretty great but I can’t be physically close to them. I have this… thing. It’s hard to explain but the upshot is?—’
‘You don’t have to explain,’ I interrupt.
‘No, it’s fine, I want to, and if we’re going to be together all night then you need to understand.’ She lets out a long breath, eyes on the ceiling. ‘I can’t touch anyone.’ She meets my eyes and holds up her hands, still inside a pair of gloves. ‘It’s a… a germ thing. I’m not saying you look like the kind of guy who is, you know, germy or anything; you actually smell really,reallygood. It’s nothing personal; it’s just the way I’m built.’
I meet her eyes directly. ‘Understood. And I apologise… I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable earlier.’
‘You didn’t.’ Maggie tucks her hair behind her ear, but it takes seconds before it falls back along the curve of her cheek. She looks to the floor, then back at me through her eyelashes. I continue. ‘Maggie? Tonight, I’m supposed to be somewhere I didn’t want to be, surrounded by people I didn’t want to talk to. I do, however, very much like talking to you. And seeing as we have no choice, how about we grab some popcorn and watch a movie. I can keep my distance. We can be alone. But, together.’
Alone but together.Did I actually say that? I’m about to try and retract the whole sentence but her face softens.
‘Alone, together?’ She pulls at her bottom lip again. My eyes drop to her mouth then correct themselves.
‘Yeah. Well, you, me, and Ted Hughes.’
‘John Hughes,’ she corrects gently.
‘We can have your vacuum between us if it’d help?’
‘Henry.’
‘No.’ I place my hand on my heart but I’m smiling. ‘Jack.’
‘I meant… Henry’s my hoover.’
‘I know,’ I say softly, tucking my hands into my pocket. ‘And you have my word, Maggie.’ I meet her eyes, keeping my focus steady and sincere. ‘I’ll respect your space. I know you have nothing to base this on, but youcantrust me.’ I wait for her to process my words.
‘You can’t even share my popcorn,’ she says, pulling at the tips of her gloves.
‘I don’t share my food, either. Seeing people share their food gives me the ick.’
‘The ick?’
‘Yep. I needed counselling after watchingLady and the Trampwhen I was six.’ I shudder. ‘I can’t even eat spaghetti.’
She laughs then narrows her eyes, mock serious. ‘Are you a noisy eater?’
‘No. Are you a loud slurper?’ I lean against the wall and cross one foot over the other.
‘No. Wrapper crinkler?’
‘Only during loud action scenes.’
‘Phone checker?’
‘Nope.’ I wait as she looks around the room, hand tapping against her thigh then laughs to herself, shaking her head.
‘What’s funny?’ I ask.
