Page 30 of Unforgettable Player

It’s fucking weird hearing my parents call Elliot ‘handsome.’

“Stop it,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “You’re being weird.”

Mom spins around to look at me. “How are we being weird? We’re just complimenting him.”

“I know, but he’d die of embarrassment if he could hear you right now.”

Mom tuts and turns back around. “He’s too modest.”

She’s quiet for a minute and I relax, thinking—hoping—she’s dropped the subject. But then she carries on, “I used to hope he and Scout would fall for each other.”

Dad laughs.

“He’s gay,” I remind her.

“I know that. It was just an idea.”

We get to the theatre before Scout, of course.

“I hope she hasn’t broken down,” Mom says as she scans the parking lot for a powder blue hunk of crap.

“She’ll be fine,” Dad assures her. He puts his hand on her waist and gently leads her across the parking lot.

We're at the concession stand getting popcorn when Scout and Eli finally arrive.

“Got your tickets,” Dad says. “And it’s Coke for Scout and Sprite for Eli, right?”

Eli’s eyes light up. Why? Because my dad remembered what drink he likes?

Once we’re all set with our snacks and drinks, we make our way to the screen and find out seats.

Scout pushes past me to get to the seat next to the wall and pulls Elliot in behind her, leaving me squashed between Elliot and Mom.

That’s fine. I’ve sat next to Elliot at the movies tons of times. No reason why it has to be different now. Except the fact I know what his lips taste like now. Shut up.

We’re a little early and the lights are still up, the screen dark. It’s so quiet, I can hear Scout and Eli whispering. I can’t hear exactly what they’re saying, but the sound of Elliot’s whispers draws me in.

I don’t realize how zoned out I am, my eyelids getting heavy, my gaze becoming unfocussed, until the lights go down and the screen flashes on.

I try to ignore how close Elliot’s leg is to mine while the trailers play. It’s all horror movie trailers. Scout keeps grabbing Eli’s arm and laughing at herself every time she reacts to a jump scare. After ignoring him through two or three previews, I can’t take it anymore and let my gaze linger toward where he’s siting. I catch him laughing, my chest lurching at the sight. The screen illuminating his face in his glasses. I’d forgotten what he looks like when he laughs—really laughs. He closes his eyes, scrunches his nose and shows a little flash of upper tooth. It’s so fucking pretty.

When the movie starts, I try to focus on that instead. It doesn’t help that it’s weirdly sexual for a movie about an ugly vampire.

I’m actually grateful for how immature Scout is during sex scenes. Her snorts of laughter dispel the awkward tension.

I ration my glances at Eli. His laughter drawing them in and breaking my resolve. Every time I look over, he’s laughing. Dimples popping, the dark irises of his eyes shining.

Why does he have to be so fucking beautiful? There’s no way I can look at him the way Scout does—like a brother or a platonic best friend.

I’m irrationally jealous of how tactile she gets to be with him without anyone batting an eye. She’s practically sitting in his lap during a scary part of the movie and no one cares. She’s just allowed to touch him like that. And Elliot looks totally at ease. He keeps eating popcorn while Scout grabs his arm and buries her face in his neck. His fucking neck.

She snorts Coke out of her nose during a particularly weird sex scene. I glance at Mom and find her hiding her face in embarrassment.

Once the set-up is over and the plot gets into the nitty gritty, Scout starts fidgeting like she always does.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” she says, climbing over Eli before stepping on my foot on her way past.

Now she’s gone, despite the fact my parents are sitting next to me, it feels like me and Eli are alone.