“Why are we so early?” I gesture to the nearly empty seating areas.
Holden laughs nervously. “I wanted to make sure we got a good spot.”
We’ve come here before—many times. But nothere.Not in this section. Usually, we buy the cheapest tickets available, far enough from the stage where we have to pretend to hear anything.
But this is close. Close enough that we’ll actually be able to see the actors’ expressions or admire their costumes.
Holden brought me close enough to feel like I’m part of it, because he knows I love this kind of thing.
The biggest plus is that this section is shaded. It means we won’t roast since it’ll be a billion degrees today. Good thing I wore the dress.
I smooth it down, feeling strangely self-conscious around him. The urge to say something, to thank him or something, is strong.
“Holden…”
He looks at me again, but there’s a hint of something almost sheepish in it. “You like it, don’t you?”
“This is—” I gesture vaguely.I can’t believe you did this.“These seats are not cheap.”
He shrugs like it’s nothing, but I catch the flicker of nerves in his eyes. It’s rare for Holden to ever truly be nervous—not like this, anyway. His voice lowers. “Figured if we were gonna do this, we should do it right.”
My heart does some unexpected gymnastics, and I look away.
Do this?
What isthis?
I swallow it down.
“Well,” I say, trying to lighten the mood, “you’re definitely doing it, and winning.”
Holden grins widely. “Am I?”
“It’s definitely a win.”
“Good. ‘Cause this is just the start.”
He planned more? Dammit. That shouldn’t make my stomach swoop the way it does.
My attention drops to the dark wicker basket on the corner of the blanket. It’s one of those fancy ones with lifting panels on both sides. It must have been what he was hiding under the blanket.
My throat tightens. I expected a reusable grocery bag or something to carry our food. But Holden went all in withsomething that looks like it came straight out of a romance movie. I mean, where did he even get it?
Holden notices me eyeing the thing and laughs quietly. “Don’t even think about it,” he teases.
“I’m not—”
“Oh, you so are. You want to peek inside.”
I was still reeling over the pretty basket, but now that he mentions it…
I hide my smile. “I wasn’t going to.”
He nudges me lightly with his knee. “Mm-hmm. I know you, Korie. You’re dying to know what I brought.”
I squirm, stifling a giggle. “Maybe.”
He lets me hang there for all of three seconds before he caves with a dramatic sigh. “Fine. But only because I’m a generous host.”
