“Yeah, I saw it, bug. That was close,” I say, my voice coming out a little higher than normal.
Maisie looks at me, her red glasses slipping down her nose, then looks at Eli, then down at our laps.
A knowing smirk plays on her lips. She’s nine, not stupid.
She turns back to the movie, but a second later, she leans over and nudges my arm with her elbow. I glance down at her. She doesn’t look away from the screen, but she mouths the word “sorry.”
I bite my lip, my heart swelling. She’s giving me permission. Or maybe she’s just telling me she knows.
I look back at Eli. He’s staring straight ahead at the screen now, his jaw tight, looking a little wounded. I reach out under the cover of the darkness and find his hand again. I intertwine our fingers, squeezing hard.
He turns his head, surprised. When he sees me, his shoulders relax. He squeezes back.
We watch the rest of the movie like that. Maisie and Fallon whispering on one side, me and Eli holding hands on the other.
It’s… nice. It’s domestic in a way I haven’t experienced in years. No fighting. No fear. Just buttered popcorn and good company.
When the credits roll, the lights in the theater slowly brighten, blinding us all for a moment.
“Stretch!” Fallon announces, throwing his arms wide and cracking his back. “Oh, that’s the stuff.”
Maisie stands up on her seat, bouncing on her heels. “That was the best movie ever. The dragon was so cute!”
“He was pretty cool,” Fallon agrees, ruffling her hair. “But the toothless one? That guy has serious attitude. I respect it.”
We shuffle out of the row, making our way up the sloped aisle toward the exit. The lobby is bustling with people leaving theother showings, the air thick with the smell of spilled soda and excited chatter.
Fallon stops by the trash cans, dumping his empty bucket. “Man, I’m starving again. All that popcorn did was wake up my stomach.”
“I could eat,” Eli admits, looking at his watch.
I check the time on my phone. It’s late. Past nine on a Sunday. Maisie has school tomorrow. I should drive her home, put her to bed, and call it a night.
“We should probably get going,” I start, but the words feel heavy on my tongue. I don’t want to go. I don’t want this night to end.
Eli turns to me, his expression hopeful. “Why don’t you guys come back to the restaurant? We have a ton of dough prep left over from the morning. We could make pizzas. Real ones. Wood-fired.”
Fallon’s eyes light up. “Pizzas? I’m down. I can throw some sausage and peppers on there.”
“I… I don’t know,” I hesitate, looking down at Maisie. “It’s getting pretty late.”
Maisie looks up at me, her eyes wide and pleading. “Please, Mom? Pizza? We like pizza.”
I look at Eli. He’s looking at me with those warm brown eyes, so full of light. He’s not pushing, but he wants this. He wants me to stay.
“Please, Mom?” Maisie repeats, tugging on my sleeve. “Eli’s pizzas are probably better than delivery.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Okay. Fine. But only for a little while.”
“Yes!” Maisie pumps her fist in the air.
Fallon grins, slapping Eli on the back. “Good call, brother. Let’s go feed the people.”
“Excellent,” Eli says, his smile widening. “We’ll see you there. I need to run ahead and turn on the ovens.”
He jogs off toward the exit, his coat flapping behind him.
Fallon looks at me and Maisie. “I’ll drive separately. See you ladies there.”
