Page 16 of Camera Stays On

I clicked my tongue and pointed to the doors. “You know the rules. No smoking in the theater. Go outside by the ashtray and come back when you’re done.”

He shook his head, and despite the scowl on his lips, his eyes sparkled with amusement. This was part of our routine. Two to three times a week he came in, bought a matinee ticket, and tried to sneak in a smoke before the show.

“You know, back when these theaters were popular, they didn’t care what we did. We smoked doobies and wore our trench coats, and—”

I put my hand up and made an exaggerated grimace. “All right, I’ve heard it before, old man. Go smoke—and if you make it quick, I’ll hold the movie for you.”

He winked and stepped out to have his cigarette, letting other patrons slip past him to come buy their tickets.

“Which show?” I asked the next man as he stepped up to the booth.

“The Nightwhore Before XXXmas, please.”

“You got it.” I printed out his ticket and moved to the next person. One by one, all the men in line got their tickets and drifted toward the theater. We didn’t host concessions as there were only ever two people on the clock. A ticket salesperson and a projectionist, who doubled as security.

“We like the pretty girls up front, but just in case, we make sure someone’s here to keep you safe,” my boss, Wilbur, told me when I was hired. There were four employees total, two men and two women. Today, it was Dean and me. When he wasn’t turning the movies on, he typically hung in the back, watching the security cameras.

Once the matinee shows started, my job slowed, and I sat down on my stool, pulling out a book from below the counter. There wasn’t much to do in the line of cleaning. After each workday, Wilbur had a cleaning service come in and take care of everything. Any messes left behind by our patrons were not my concern.

Thank God.

I continued reading and was soon immersed in the world the author created. I was so invested that I hadn’t heard the front door open and someone walk to the booth.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

I screamed, jumping so high I dropped my book. Scurrying off my stool, I scooped up the book and set it on the counter.

“What can—oh my God.” I stared through the glass, seeing the man I prayed every night to never see again. Sawyer Delambre. My insides twisted as a pit began to form and grow.

He’d found me.

I grew dizzy, and I realized I’d stopped breathing.

“How...” I shook my head, lost in confusion. “What are you doing here?”

He dug his hands into his pockets and rocked on his heels. “A little birdie told me you worked here. I was nearby and thought I’d come say hi.”

“Nearby?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Collingwood is almost three hours away. What would bring you here?”

“I’m visiting friends. I just left them, and I don’t have to be back home until tomorrow morning.” He leaned on the counter, and much to my surprise, it was the first time I’d ever truly felt grateful for the glass. Our regular pervy patrons didn’t scare me. Sawyer did. “What are you doing after work? Could I take you to dinner?”

“No,” I said firmly. Taking a deep breath, I stood tall. “Sawyer, I’m sorry I didn’t make it clear when I was in town, but—”

“Oh, come on, Purdy. Why are you acting like this? We have too much history to just walk away from.”

I scoffed. That was funny, considering I already had five years ago. He’d humiliated me in front of half the town, and I’d ended our engagement right at the altar. It was at that moment, standing in my wedding dress, with a bouquet in hand and cameras watching, that I’d realized I should have ended things long before that. Years, in fact. There should have been no wedding, no engagement, no high school sweethearts…

There shouldn’t have even been that first kiss.

That night at the movies changed the trajectory of my life in such a way I didn’t want to return to it. Purdy and Sawyer were over, forever.

“Hey!” Dean shoved the backroom door open, it boomed as it hit the wall. Sawyer leaped back. “What are you doing, huh?”

Sawyer grew defensive, standing straighter. He clenched his fists.

I wanted to laugh.

While Sawyer was a large man, both in muscle and height, Dean was 6’4” and a bodybuilder. There was a reason The Pink Curtain hadn’t had any issues since he’d been hired. I watched in amusement as the blood drained from Sawyer’s face as he took Dean in.