Page 44 of Three Months Yesterday

“Sure. Let’s watch a movie.”

My gaze shifts to Beckett as he makes another comment and I can’t help but chuckle at how many comments he’s made only twenty minutes into the movie.

“All right, I understand that being hard when the person you’re playing with isn’t really participating, but come on! It’s not that hard,” Beckett says through a laugh as Cary Grant’s character tries to grab the orange between his chin and chest from the woman on the screen.

It doesn’t matter how many times I see this movie; I always laugh at everything going on in this scene. Cary Grant is a great actor, particularly in his later career, but his physical comedy gets me every time—especially in this movie.

“Ah, now I get it,” Beckett murmurs as the scene shifts to Cary Grant trying to pass the orange to Audrey Hepburn.

Everything around them slows as their eyes meet. The music softens and all the focus is on how close the two of them are. Her lips part the slightest amount and she barely leans in before his attention goes back to the game.

It’s such a small moment and yet the chemistry between them is palpable. I have to stop myself from shifting in my seat, my mind immediately drifting to what it would be like to be in that situation with Beckett.

But then the scene is moving yet again, and Audrey’s attraction to Cary Grant morphs to fear as one of the bad guys whispers in her ear.

“How much of an age gap is there?” The words are soft, as if he didn’t mean to ask them out loud, but I can’t help myself from answering.

“Well, in real life he’s about twenty-five years older than her, but they never actually say how old either of them is in the movie.”

Though it’s clear from the comments Cary Grant’s character makes, the age difference isn’t small.

“Hmm,” he hums.

My gaze shifts from the screen to Beckett, but the only light in the room is the glow from the TV. I wish I could see him better, see his face to get an idea of what he’s thinking.

Twenty-five years is much bigger than ten. I mean, that’s old enough to be someone’s father. Ten years has to feel like nothing in comparison.

“What’s he doing?” Beckett asks, pulling my attention back to the screen in time to see Cary Grant step into the hotel room of the three bad guys. “Please, no. He can’t be a bad guy too.”

When I don’t respond, Beckett reaches for the remote and pauses the movie, his eyes locking with mine.

“I’m not gonna spoil it for you. You’ll just have to watch to find out.”

He doesn’t move, as if waiting for me to break and give him the answer to all his questions.

“Beckett.” I laugh. “You can stare at me all you want, but I’m not going to tell you.”

The sigh he releases is so dramatic I can’t help but laugh again. He falls back into the couch pressing play, but not before he mumbles under his breath, “I swear. If you made me watch a movie where Cary Grant’s the bad guy…” His words trail off, and I wonder if it’s because he doesn’t know how to finish the thought or if it’s because he’s already so invested in the movie.

“They’ve known each other for a few days and he lied to her. How can she possibly love him?” Beckett asks in disbelief.

“Maybe it’s instinct.”

My eyes stay trained on the screen and I wonder if it’s possible—to feel so strongly for a person you just met.

Movies aren’t meant to be taken literally, but it’s still a question worth pondering.

“What do you mean?” Beckett pauses the movie and without moving from his lounged position, he turns to look at me.

“I don’t know,” I say, mirroring him. “I’ve never experienced it myself—falling in love so quickly—so I have no idea if it’s possible, but people say it is.”

“Hmm. I don’t think love at first sight is real. Attraction? Lust? Absolutely. But love?” His gaze moves back to the TV. “I think love takes knowing a person.”

I follow his gaze and find the screen paused on Audrey’s character kissing Cary’s cheek. “But do you think it’s possible to know someone on a deeper level than you realize? Like, maybe it’s not about knowing the facts about someone and it’s more about trusting your gut. More about how you feel when you’re with that person.”

Beckett doesn’t say anything, but I feel him watching me and I can’t help but wonder if I’ve said too much. If I’ve given away something I didn’t even realize I was holding onto.

“You know, besides his name, he never actually lied to her,” I whisper as the movie ends. “I think it’s why she picked him in the end.”