Quarter Mile Hearts(36)

“You ready?” He steps back to let me on the front step. I close and lock the door behind me and follow him out to his Camaro. It will be fun being a passenger, but I’m itching to drive it.

“I thought we could go to see a film. The Longest Ride is showing at The Reel.”

“That sounds good.” I buckle up as I frantically try to think what the film is about. As long as it’s not a sappy, weepy chick flick, I’m fine.

It’s a short drive to the only cinema in town, which is good because I suck at small talk. I’m itching to ask Kyle if I can drive his car, but I don’t know him well enough. Kyle parks on the street just down from The Reel. There isn’t a line, and Kyle pays for my ticket and popcorn. I know it’s the gentlemanly thing, but it makes me feel a little uncomfortable.

Inside the theater, we sit near the back, even though there is only a handful of other people there. Kyle doesn’t seem to be big on conversation and I am marginally worse.

“It’s a bike you ride?”

“For just now; I have a car, too.”

“Oh yeah, what do you drive?”

“A ’67 Charger.”

Kyle splutters and chokes on some popcorn. “A Dodge Charger?”

“Yeah, it was the first car my dad bought me. We did a lot of work on it, with the help of Aaron as well.”

“I’m just surprised that’s all.”

“Don’t you know she likes American muscle?” A deep familiar voice sounds at the side of me. You have got to be fucking kidding me. I turn to my left to see Max and the bimbo from lunchtime sit down beside me. Of all the seats. The place is practically empty, and they have to sit next to us. What is he trying to do to me?

“Now, is that any way to greet your favorite employee?” He laughs at my stunned expression, and I’m guessing I spoke out loud.

“What are you doing here?” I don’t bother being polite because it is wasted on him.

“Same as you.” He winks and settles down in his seat, stretching his arm across his date’s shoulders.

I force my gaze to the front and try my best to ignore the fact that the most annoying man on this planet is sitting next to me. The giggles coming from his date are making it harder, and I grit my teeth and grab a handful of popcorn trying to suppress my anger. Kyle is totally oblivious and sits with his eyes trained on the screen and reaches for the popcorn every thirty seconds or so.

To my dismay, The Longest Ride is a chick flick. I must live under a rock not to have realized this. Was it too much to hope that we could have come to see Fast and Furious 7 or some action movie? It isn’t long before I’ve lost interest in what is happening on the screen and my mind wanders. It is becoming increasingly hard to concentrate because of the giggling coming from the seat over from me. I don’t think Max has seen any of the film because his head has been turned to the side, too busy whispering things in the bimbo’s ear, or kissing her neck, or her lips or doing any number of unspeakable things under the cover of a dark cinema.

Now, I’m all hot and bothered, and it is all his fault. Damn him for ruining my first date in ages.

I grab my purse and hurriedly whisper, “Excuse me,” to Kyle. I squeeze past him before walking quickly up the aisle and out of the cinema. The toilets are empty when I push open the door and I take my time, peeing and washing my hands.

Get a grip on yourself.

I scold myself; why am I letting Max ruin this for me. I should just ignore him, let him get it on with bimbo Barbie, and not bother. But it is hard when my body tingles every time he’s near me; it literally hums with tightly suppressed desire. My insides are one big coil of lust waiting to be set free. The jealousy that twists in my gut is painful, and I wonder how much longer I can deny how I feel. I know I need to keep pushing Max away, but it gets harder and harder. It was hard enough after Saturday night but since our brief but oh-so-amazing kiss this morning, it’s been ten times worse.

Leaning over the sink, I take a few deep breaths and pull myself together. I need to go back in there and pretend like I don’t give a shit, even if I know Max is doing this to prove a point. After a final check in the mirror, I turn and leave the bathroom.

“There you are. I was worried you had run away.” Max’s voice startles me, and I jump when I see him leaning against the wall outside the ladies’ restroom.

“What are you doing here?” I nearly wail when I see him.

“Nice to see you, too. I was just checking to make sure you were okay.”

“And why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“Because of the way you rushed out of the movie.”