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“The show opens in two weeks and today Martin fumbled half his lines. The wardrobe mistress finally got me a dress, ages after everyone else, and when I told her it was too small she had the nerve to say I must have put on weight! That woman...” She scrubbed the same spot over and over again. “And,” she added, in a low, menacing tone, “My parents have decided to come see the show.”
I winced. It so happened that both of Eva’s parents taught literature, and held any tinkering with the classics in dismal regard. They had been openly shocked by the idea of anyone singing Austen’s prose, but apparently they were taking the higher road and coming to see the show to support their daughter.
It had occurred to me more than once that Mr. and Mrs. Bryant had misplaced their humor long ago.
“Are you and Ryan going to come?” Eva asked. “Because if I have to listen to you humming gushily, then you’d damn well better listen to me sing my little heart out.”
“We’ll be there.” I checked my phone for the time. “And, in fact, he’ll be here in like five minutes.”
Eva turned sharply. “He will? Why?”
I grinned and gave a little shake. “We’re going on a date.”
Eva stared at me. “Ew.”
I stopped my happy-dance. “What?”
“That is so sickeningly couple-y. I don’t know if I can handle it.”
I crossed my arms. “Given that we just decided a couple days ago that we are a couple, I think it makes sense. Besides, we’ve never actually gone on a date. And you go on dates all the time!”
She let out a snort of disdain. “No. I occasionally go out to dinner with whomever I’m hooking up with. I don’t giggle.”
Giggle? Who giggled? I’d never giggled in my life. Ha. I stuck out my tongue. “Please. I don’t giggle, either.”
Ten minutes later, I buzzed Ryan up to the apartment. Despite the fifty-five steps, he wasn’t even huffing when I opened the door. He dropped a quick kiss on my lips and glanced around the apartment, which seemed to constrict even more with him inside. “Hey, Eva,” he said, and then shot me a grin. “Nice place.”
I felt a little fluttery and let out a laugh. Eva raised her brows, and I frowned at her. “I’ll give you the grand tour.” I waved my hand to the left. “Here, we have the kitchen.” I waved to the right. “The bathroom.” Five steps forward led to “Eva’s room,” and another step forward, “And here’s mine.”
He crossed the living room in three long steps, bracing his hands against my doorframe and leaning over me to peer into my room. His arm brushed against my back. “This is a fire-hazard.”
I frowned. “I cleaned! I hung my clothes up and everything!”
He nodded at a red and gold Venetian mask hanging on the wall. “I like that.”
“I got it when studying in Italy.”
“Bet you look cute in it.”
“I look cute in anything.” He turned his head and smiled.
“Anyway.” I stepped away but still grinned like a madman. “We should go.”
Eva caught my eye. “Did I just hear something?”
Auditory delusions were just so sad in one so young. “I’ll see you later.”
She laughed. “Have fun, kids.”
We spiraled back down the stairs and exited onto the street. “This way.” Ryan headed to the left, and I followed half a second later. He reached back and caught my hand. His palm felt warm against mine; his fingers wrapped firmly around my own. And when I stopped walking, our joint hands pulled him to a stop.
He looked bac
k. “What?”
“Uh, nothing.” I bit back a smile. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
