Chapter 100 Too close
Hannah
After Nate paid for the tickets, we walked a little further into the theater lobby.
Natalie was still bouncing beside him excitedly, clutching the small plush rabbit she had brought with her. I recognized it immediately, the spotted one she had insisted on adopting from the shelter a few weeks ago.
Her nanny approached from across the lobby a moment later.
“Miss Natalie,” the woman said gently.
Natalie ran to her, still chatting happily about the movie she was going to watch with her friends.
Nate crouched down briefly to fix the little girl’s hair, brushing a curl away from her forehead.
“Be good,” he said softly.
Natalie nodded with the serious expression children used when they wanted to appear responsible.
“I will.”
Then she waved enthusiastically at us.
“Bye Hannah!”
I laughed and waved back.
“Bye Natalie.”
Once the nanny led her toward the children’s screening room, Nate stood up and turned back to us.
“Well,” he said lightly. “Lead the way.”
We headed toward our theater.
The hallway dimmed as we walked inside, the scent of popcorn and butter filling the air. The large screen glowed faintly ahead while soft music played before the movie started.
Sienna marched ahead confidently.
She chose three seats in the middle row and immediately plopped down.
I followed, settling into the seat beside her.
Just as Nate moved to sit on Sienna’s other side, she suddenly placed her bag and a giant tub of popcorn on the seat.
“Oops,” she said casually.
Nate paused.
“That one’s taken.”
He blinked.
“Taken by who?”
She waved her hand toward the other side of me.
“Sit there.”
My head turned slowly toward her.
I gave her a subtle glare.
She pretended not to notice.
Nate chuckled quietly and walked around, lowering himself into the seat beside me.
“Well,” he said. “That works too.”
I sank slightly into my chair, trying to ignore the warmth spreading up my neck.
The lights dimmed further.
People continued filing into the room while trailers began playing across the screen.
I suddenly became very aware of the person sitting beside me.
Nate leaned back comfortably in his chair, one arm resting on the armrest between us.
Meanwhile, I sat stiffly, adjusting my position at least three times in the span of a minute.
Eventually he leaned slightly closer and whispered,
“You okay?”
I nodded quickly.
“Yes.”
My voice came out a little too fast.
He gave me a small amused look but didn’t comment.
Thankfully, the movie started soon after.
Within ten minutes the story pulled me in enough that my nervousness faded.
The opening scenes were funny and fast-paced, and Sienna laughed loudly beside me.
Nate leaned toward us occasionally, whispering commentary that made the scenes even funnier.
At one point he murmured something so dry and sarcastic that I had to press my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
A small snort escaped anyway.
He looked pleased with himself.
“Glad someone appreciates my humor,” he whispered.
I shook my head, still smiling.
“You’re terrible.”
“Yet effective.”
Sienna glanced over at us and waggled her eyebrows dramatically.
I shot her a warning glare.
She grinned and turned back to the movie.
For a while I forgot about everything else.
The story became exciting as the plot built toward its climax.
We passed snacks back and forth between the three of us.
Nate shared his popcorn.
Sienna offered pastries.
At one point Nate leaned over me slightly to grab something from the other side and I froze for a second before relaxing again.
Everything felt surprisingly easy.
Comfortable.
But then it happened.
I shifted in my seat slightly.
At the same moment, Nate did the same.
Our legs brushed.
His thigh pressed lightly against mine.
It was such a small thing.
Barely noticeable.
Except suddenly I noticed it too much.
My body went hyper-aware again.
Every little movement.
Every brush of our arms as we reached for snacks.
The warmth from his side.
I stared determinedly at the movie screen.
Focus on the movie.
Not the man sitting beside you.
The story reached its most exciting moment, and the theater filled with gasps and laughter.
I leaned forward slightly, completely caught up in the scene.
As the final twist unfolded, I couldn’t help smiling.
“I knew it,” I whispered.
The ending I had predicted earlier actually happened.
I turned toward Nate with a small triumphant grin.
“See?”
But when I looked at him, he wasn’t looking at the screen anymore.
He was looking at me.
His eyes were darker now.
Warmer.
Something in his expression made my breath catch slightly.
For a second neither of us spoke.
His gaze flickered briefly downward.
To my lips.
Heat rushed into my face.
The moment stretched just long enough to feel dangerous.
Then—
The theater lights suddenly came on.
The movie ended.
The spell shattered instantly.
People began standing and gathering their things.
I blinked quickly and stood up too fast.
“I…uh…”
My words tangled together.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
Sienna looked up at me with far too much interest.
“Okay,” she said slowly.
I grabbed my bag quickly.
“I’ll be right back.”
Without waiting for a response, I hurried out of the theater.