“I’m fine,” I say anyway, automatically.
Mel looks over from the windows. “You should take a break, Mads.”
“Yeah,” Liam adds. “Go to the movies or something.”
I blink at him. “Go to the movies? Alone?”
“I can take you.”
Ryan’s voice comes from behind him. Kiara immediately points at him. “Exactly. A good date night might actually fix your mood.”
I glance at Noah without thinking. He gives me a warm smile. “I think Kiara’s right.”
I exhale slowly. I can’t really say no to a date night, can I? That would actually be very strange-looking.
“Okay,” I say. “Well… thank you.”
Ryan pushes himself off the counter, grabbing his jacket and mine too. “Let’s go.”
I follow him, still not entirely convinced this is a good idea, but not really in the mood to argue either.
And a few seconds later, we’re heading out.
17
RYAN
Nowthatwas her cartoon laugh
“Okay, important question…salty or sweet?” I stare at Maddy, waiting for her to answer.
“Definitely salt,” she answers flatly.
I tilt my head. “I’m disappointed in you. Sweet is always better.”
“Absolutely not.”
I shake my head in disapproval and nudge her shoulder. “Well, maybe it says a lot about our personalities.”
Her jaw drops and she hits my chest lightly. I just laugh under my breath. “Well, a mix it is then.”
We walk over to the cashier standing behind the bar with a red cap and shirt that saysBaylin Cinema.
I can tell Maddy’s trying to act like everything’s fine, like she’s not worried at all, but I know she’s got a hundred things running through her head. At the café, she was way too quiet, not like her at all. The song helped for a bit, but the second we went back to cleaning, that little frown between her brows was right back. So I went to Kiara to tell I was a little worried, she agreed and immediately went over to her. And honestly, Liam’s idea about the movies wasn’t the worst. Not that I’m a big fan of going to the movies, they’re probably the most cliché date spot ever, but if it gets her out of her head for a while, I’ll like it a lot better.
We order a large mixed popcorn in one of those red-and-white striped tubs and two drinks. The girl behind the counter smiles politely. “Was that all?”
“Yeah,” I say at the same time Maddy says, “Yep.”
We both pause and look at each other.
“…Actually,” Maddy says.
Two minutes later, we’re walking toward the theatre with popcorn, chocolate M&M’s, and enough sour candy to rot a small village’s teeth. Our arms are full as we head for the room where our movie’s about to start.
Maddy walks in front of me, her blonde ponytail swinging from left to right, her knitted sweater hanging just above her linen shorts.
“Okay,” she begins, turning her head slightly so I catch her side profile. “I just realized that we decided who you would be if you were an animal.”
