The movie had been playing at the far end of the hall, and he passed several other screening rooms, their doors still closed as muffled cinema sounds came through the walls. A few yards ahead and to the right he saw a door open and slowed his steps. He could see the illumined sign that saidVertigo. He’d almost chosen to see that movie, changing his mind at the last minute.
Then two people came out of the room. He didn’t recognize the man... but he instantly knew the woman.
His heartbeat screeched to a halt, along with his footsteps. The man lightly put his hand on Amy’s waist and guided her through a larger crowd. She turned to look at him, mouthing the words “thank you.”
He jerked forward as someone collided with his shoulder.
“Excuse me,” a tall, lanky kid said, giving him an apologetic wave and scurrying off with his friends.
Daniel realized he was standing in the middle of the hallway,the other theatergoers dodging him. He regained his composure and started walking, this time with hurried steps. Of all the theaters in the Dallas area, they had to be at the same one. And who was that guy she was with?
He caught sight of them again as they walked close together toward the exit.Too close.An ugly thread of jealousy wound through him, choking off the common sense that told him Amy had the right to go out with anyone she wanted to, and he didn’t have the right to complain. Or interfere.But I can still follow them.
And he did, feeling a little bit like a spy and a lot like a chump, but that didn’t stop him. The man was impeccably dressed. Daniel had been around Arthur and his ilk to know that the casual jacket he was wearing cost a mint, and that the shoes were even more expensive. Amy looked... Well, she looked incredible. He hadn’t been this close to her in almost two decades, and even though they were a decent distance away, he still got a good view of her. Fit, trim, and those amazing legs... She was still every bit as pretty as she had been years ago.
They walked out the door, and he hustled after them, slowing his pace as they walked to the parking lot. Her brown hair was shorter than he remembered. It suited her. He wished he could get a look at her face, though, not her profile. He considered jogging past them so he could do just that, then he saw them walk toward a Mercedes... and he stopped cold. He spun on his heel, turned around, and walked in the opposite direction.
His pulse still careened in his body, but it was tempered with a hard splash of reality. Amy had always been—and still was—a beauty. He shouldn’t be surprised that a rich, good-looking guy would want to be with her.
Wait—did Brittany know about Amy’s date? Or boyfriend? Itwas an unspoken rule that they didn’t talk about Amy’s personal life. But he’d never had much of an opening to either.
He rushed to his car, a 2003 Fusion that needed a tune-up, and got inside. He turned it on, cranked the air, and quickly dialed Brittany’s number.
She picked up on the third ring. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hey, Brittany, did you know—” he stilled, realizing he was about to put his daughter in a terrible position. If she knew about Amy’s date, she’d feel obligated to tell him or lie about it. And if she didn’t and Amy hadn’t told her...
“Did I what?”
His brain grasped for a decent answer. “Did you know there’s a new superhero movie out? I thought we could go see it.”
Pause. “I’m sorry, Dad. I don’t go to the movies. They make me anxious.”
Oh. He knew that. He stared at the ceiling of the car and winced. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I forgot.”
“It’s okay,” she said in her soft, sweet voice. “I should be able to go to the movies. Normal people do that.”
“Honey, you’re more normal than most people I know. Besides, theaters are crowded, the sound is loud, and the refreshments are highway robbery.”
“Maybe we could rent one and watch it together.”
He nodded and positioned the air vent toward him. “I’d like that. How was your day?”
Another pause. “It was good, Dad. Really good. I think... I think I might have made a new friend.”
Daniel smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.” And it was something he needed to do too. Other than his boss and his family, he didn’t engage with too many people. He was never one to have a passel of friends like Amy always had. She was a cheerleader and oneof the most popular girls in school. He was shy and a gearhead, always working on cars instead of his studies. He’d been shocked when she asked him to sit with her at the school library when she was a junior and he was a senior. They started dating after that, falling in love with each other before he graduated.
And he’d idiotically thrown it all away.
“Dad?” Britt said, breaking into his thoughts. “If you don’t mind, I’m pretty tired tonight. Can we talk later?”
“Sure thing. And let me know when you want to see that movie. I’ll even let you choose which one.”
She chuckled. “How magnanimous of you.”
“I guess I’ll have to google that,” he said, only partly kidding.
Her laughter grew. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll talk to you soon.”
