“We don’t need to go out,” he says.
I snag a random shirt from the hanger and yank it on, cringing at the way it feels against my skin. Without looking at Holden, I pull it off and throw it to the floor, fisting one hand at my side.
“Iwantto go out. I’m sick of this place,” I say.
“So you’ve told me.”
Everything he says lately has atone.Not rude or harsh or anything. More like he’s trying to figure something out.
Figuremeout.
I’ve felt it in the way he looks at me.
Holden steps closer, grabs a plain red t-shirt from the right end of the closet, where my “safe” shirts are, and offers it to me.
I hastily pull it on, smoothing it over my belt. It’s not quite right, but it’s not… wrong either.
Stepping around him, I grab my wallet from the nightstand and shove it into my back pocket, trying not to look at Holden in the mirror. I’m afraid if I do, I’ll see disappointment. Or worse, something to confirm this version of me isn’t the one he’s fallen in love with.
“I thought we could go to a movie,” I say. “Something normal.”
Holden hesitates. “Normal?”
“Yeah, like. Not a date. Just… us. Doing us things.”
Something that won’t make me look too closely at what we’ve become or make me feel like I’m fifty steps behind you.
Something that can remind me of where we were just a few short weeks ago.
Something safe.
“Okay.” His voice is too patient.
At the theater, Holden holds the door for me, then we walk to the digital ticket kiosk. I step in to pay before he can. Once through the secondary doors, I fold my arms over my chest and walk to the concession stands. The scent of popcorn makes my mouth water, even though I’m not sure I have the appetite for it.
Holden stands close enough I can feel his body heat through my shirt, and when he puts a hand on my waist, I instinctively scoot a fraction closer. I still need him right now, even if I don’t know what to do about that.
Ever since I realized we were on two very different timelines, I’ve felt like my axis has tilted. But the problem is, I don’t know what to do about it. I don’twantHolden to leave me, but I also… need space from him.
I know I want this. I do. I’m just… not where he is yet.
Holden rubs slow circles on my back. “You okay?”
I force a smile and reach for his hand, trying to act normal. “Yeah.” It comes out too fast, so I try again. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just, you know. Busy head.”
At least that part isn’t a lie.
Holden brushes the back of my hand with his thumb. He looks like he wants to kiss me. I don’t know if I want him to. “It should be a good movie.”
“Yeah. I hope so.” I barely even remember the title, let alone the plot.
We shuffle through the crowd to the snack line, and that’s when I see them. Jordan, Sophie, and Miles are less than ten feet away, in another line. My hand tightens on Holden’s, and I get the terrible urge to pull away.
But Sophie sees us before I can. Her eyes light up instantly.
“Korie!” Her attention flicks to Holden, and she beams again. “What are you guys doing here?”
Jordan turns to her. “Probably seeing a movie?”
