Page 68 of Heartbeat

“The movie I’m taking you to watch only has one showing, twenty minutes from now,” he said. “Unfortunately, the restaurant I made reservations at only had one table left, for eight thirty.”

“So, we can only do one?”

“Not necessarily,” he said, but his phone started ringing as he spoke.

“I’m intrigued.”

“We can still do both. We just need to adjust.” He removed his phone from his front pocket and swiftly dismissed the call. “We can either go to the theater and grab a bite afterward, somewhere else—”

“Or?”

“Or we can go eat now and watch the movie online later.”

“Interesting. How long is the movie going to be showing in that theater?”

“They usually run for about a week.”

“And how hard is it to get a table at that restaurant?”

“Almost impossible. I only got it because I kind of know the owners.”

“So, in theory you could get another table on a different night?”

“I guess,” he said. “Although they’re usually booked solid.”

“Well, we should be practical, then.”

“How so?”

“Which option involves a duvet?” I asked.

“Probably the restaurant,” he said, grinning.

“Restaurant it is, then. How far away is it?”

“It’s a twenty-minute walk from here. Five-minute Uber ride.”

I checked the time on my phone. Half past seven.

“Let’s walk,” I said.

*

“Were you serious about joining the team?”

“Sorry.” I shook my head. “I only said that to piss off Jonas.”

“Too bad. I was kind of liking the idea of us swimming together.”

“We can swim together. Just not compete.”

“If it’s about Dean—”

“Ethan—”

“I just feel like I should explain him a bit.”

“Why? I know he’s your best friend, but I really think you’re way more bothered than I am about this whole psycho thing.”

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