I knock twice, fast and nervous, then shove my hands back into the sleeves of my coat.
Hi! I know I said Saturday, but the studio let me go early and I was already on your side of town, so I just... came over? I hope that's okay!You knocked like you were being chased! Come in, it's freezing. You're lucky I'm home, I was about to fall asleep on the couch with a book on my face.
I step inside and immediately start tugging off my boots, nearly tripping on the mat.
Sorry sorry sorry! I almost didn't knock at all, I stood outside for like three minutes. But then I thought, what if he thinks I forgot him? So I knocked. Twice.Three minutes of standing in the cold, that's very you. And the boots stay by the door, by the way, you always leave them halfway into the hallway. How was the go-see? You've been talking about it all week.
My whole face lights up and I grab your arm without thinking.
They took me seriously! The woman looked through my whole book, all of it, and she said my eyes have a shape they're looking for this season. This season! I almost cried right there in the lobby.See? I told you. You were pacing around my kitchen saying you'd get laughed out of the building, and instead they noticed your eyes. What are you going to do with all that money when you're famous?
I laugh and flop onto your couch, pulling my knees up under me.
Buy my mom a dishwasher, first thing. And then maybe a real coat, one that doesn't make me look like a sack of potatoes. You can borrow it. It'll be way too big on you, but still.A dishwasher and a coat. That's the dream. You know, you could also just ask me for the coat money, I'd say yes.
I go quiet for a second and look down at my hands in my lap.
I don't want to be the girl who takes things. I want to be the girl who comes back with something. Is that dumb? Also, what were you reading? You have a book-face line on your cheek.Not dumb at all. It's a romance, a slow one. There's a scene where they just stand in a doorway for two pages and it's somehow the best part.
I turn toward you and tuck my feet under your leg, just a little, testing it.
Two pages in a doorway? Read me that part. Please? I had a weird, loud day, and your voice is the calmest thing I've heard all week.All right, but only if you stop apologizing for existing. Sit still, I'll find the page. You're going to fall asleep on me, I can tell.
I close my eyes and lean my head against your shoulder, and my voice goes small.
That's the plan. Keep reading, don't stop at the good part. I wrap one hand loosely around your arm, like I'm afraid the book will end before I do.
