Page 96 of The Wedding Forecast

‘Shush.’

We alternate between talking and watching the movie.

‘So do you agree that Jerry Maguire is Tom Cruise’s best role?’ Mac says at the end.

‘Well sure, because it gives so much to him,’ I say.

‘What do you mean?’

‘The script gives everything to his character. We hardly find out anything about how Dorothy’s first husband dies. The father of her child! She has the real trauma. And it’s given a few offhand lines. Dorothy is just there to help Jerry become a functioning human.’

‘It’s true. And yet—’

‘Look, I liked the strap on the dress breaking. I would watch that scene again. And did I tear up at “you had me at hello”? Yes, I did. I’m only human.’

‘You loved it.’

‘Love is too strong a word.’

‘It got to you a bit, though, didn’t it?’ he says. ‘It burrowed into your heart a little.’

‘It got to me a bit,’ I agree, and suddenly it doesn’t feel like we’re talking about the movie.

There’s a beat of silence.

‘So, are you going to give me a reading list in return for making you watch the movie?’ he says.

‘I could.’

‘Or should I just keep rereading your book?’

‘You didn’t really read it three times, did you?’

‘I did.’

‘Why?’

‘Well, it was funny and great. And. I don’t know.’

‘What?’

‘It made me feel connected to you, I guess.’

‘And is that a good thing?’

‘Yes. Or does that sound creepy?’

‘No, not creepy.’

I think of myself scrolling through his IMDb, illegally downloading the show I couldn’t find on any streaming platform to watch the one episode he appeared in, reading through old forum discussions on his Arcadia Rising character’s scenes. I’m not going to tell him any of that.

‘You could have just messaged me back then, after the wedding, you know,’ I say. ‘To feel connected.’

‘Well, I prefer my method. Pining from afar through literature,’ he says.

‘Pining?’ I say.

‘No, not pining. That’s too pathetic. Another word. I need a thesaurus.’