by Addison Cole
“I’m sorry, Nina,” Phoenix said.
Nana glared at her.
“Nana,” Phoenix corrected herself. “I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but not everyone’s cut out for small-town life, right, Grace? I mean, just look at Grace’s outfit. She looks like she stepped out of a fashion magazine with that awesome, drapey black shirt and that skirt with the slanted silver zipper pockets. I’d kill for those black leather heels with silver buckles. I mean, if you pair them with a black leather skirt you’d look all BDSM, but with that tan skirt, it’s totally chic, like you’re going out to a five-star restaurant or something. Nobody dresses like that here. I don’t think anyone would ever think Grace was from around here.”
Grace glanced down at her outfit. It was one of her favorites, and Phoenix was right about the heels. In fact, that’s why she’d bought them, because they could be office chic or nightlife sexy. She suddenly realized that around here the outfit just made her look like she thought a lot of herself. Or like she wanted other people to stop and take notice. The thought made her woozy. That was not who she was, and she hoped other people didn’t see her that way.
“Everyone appreciates different things in life,” Grace finally said with a stab of discomfort, as if she were somehow dissing her family by agreeing. Suddenly she wondered if her family, or the people who knew her, thought she’d been putting her family down all along by trying to run from her roots.
On her way out to her car, she tried to convince herself she was overthinking her appearance and pulled out her phone to text Reed and let him know she was late. There was a message waiting for her. You. Me. Under the stars. Tonight.
That sounded like the perfect night. She sent a quick reply telling him she was running late. She still had a hard time believing that he was in her life again.
As she climbed into her car, she found a single wildflower on the passenger seat. She smelled it, remembering how he used to leave a single flower for her in the funniest places. She’d found them in her cheerleading bag and on the field before a game. Even though he’d never left a note, she’d always known they were from him, even the very first time when she’d come outside before school and found one under the windshield wiper on her car. And when her sisters had found them, she’d turned the situation on them and questioned which of their boyfriends had left them a flower.
On the drive to her parents’ house, her emotions skidded and whirled between thoughts of Reed and stewing over her revelation about how she might have hurt her family’s feelings. By the time she arrived, she’d gotten herself upset about being called out for not looking like she was from Oak Falls, despite the fact that she’d worked hard to achieve exactly that.
Dolly and Reba greeted her at the kitchen door with wagging tails. “Hey, girls,” Grace said as she wound around them toward her mother, who was chopping vegetables. Her hair was pinned up in a ponytail, giving her a youthful appearance.
“Hi, sweetie. Did you see how much Reed got done on the porch? It’s so beautiful. How was your class?”
Grace had been too distraught to notice the porch. “Class was great. I loved it.” She snagged a piece of cucumber and bit into it.
“But…?”
She took another bite and said, “No but.”
“Maybe not about the class, but I know you, Grace, and there’s a but hanging in there somewhere trying to get out.”
Grace sighed and leaned against the counter. “Someone said I don’t look like I’m from here.”
“Mm-hm.” Her mother handed her a piece of a carrot. “And?”
“It just bugs me. You know I’m not embarrassed by you guys, right?”
“Ah, there’s the but.” Her mother set down the knife, and her expression turned serious. “Grace, you’ve always wanted more than what this town had to offer, but that doesn’t mean you wanted a different family or that we’re not good enough for you. We know that, honey.”
She let out a relieved sigh. “Thank goodness.”
“But…” A small smile curled her mother’s lips. “People change, honey. Just because you have what you thought you always wanted doesn’t mean you always have to want those same things.”
“I love producing.” She heard the lack of enthusiasm in her own voice and knew her mother had, too. She’d already pissed off the director she’d wanted to hire by telling him she didn’t want to use the script he’d presented. And now she was back at square one, trying to figure out which script had the most potential for funding and the best chance at sought-after actors. Even the thought of dealing with entitled actors who might have once been driven by their passion but whose passion had become twisted and driven them to be some of the most annoying people on the planet made her less enthusiastic about pouring her heart and soul into each production.
“If you say so.” Her mother began chopping again. “If you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
“I know. Thanks, Mom. Do you mind if I stay at Reed’s tonight?”
That earned the brightest smile she’d seen since Reed had picked her up for their first date. Her mother set the knife down and wiped her hands on a dish towel. “Mind? I’ll help you pack.”
Grace laughed as her mother grabbed her arm and dragged her toward her bedroom with the dogs on her heels.
“I can’t believe you’ve waited this long.” Her mother went to the bed and picked up the big stuffed bear. “Are you taking Greedy Boy?”
She’d told her mother she’d given the bear that name because Reed had greedily eaten the majority of their popcorn at the fair. Her mother had bought it hook, line, and sinker. Now she wondered if she really had…
“No.” Grace opened her smallest bag and began packing. “He’d take up the whole bed. I’m not moving in. I’m just staying for a night or two.”
“Mm-hm.”
Grace’s cell phone vibrated. She snagged it from the nightstand and read Reed’s text. I’ll be right over.
“I assume that’s your man?” her mother asked.
“Yes. He doesn’t know I’m bringing an overnight bag. I wish I could be there when he reads this text.” She typed out a reply, unable to quell her grin. Wait there. I’m packing a few things to stay overnight. I’ll meet you at your place. Her phone rang seconds later.
“Oh! Someone’s happy,” her mother said. “I’ll leave you alone to chat.”
Grace mouthed, Thank you, and answered Reed’s call. Before she could say a word, he said, “You’re staying over?”
“Unless you mind?”
“Does a bear mind hibernating in the winter?”
She tried to tamp down the thrill skittering through her. She couldn’t afford to get caught up in a fantasy, but she refused to let her temporary stay keep her from enjoying every minute she could with Reed.
“Well, make room in the cave, because I’m just going to take care of a few things, and then I’ll be on my way.”
REED WAS PACING the porch when Grace pulled into the driveway. He’d spent the last two hours getting ready for their date, and knowing she was staying over offered the perfect end to what he hoped would be an incredible evening. When she stepped from her car, he lifted her off her feet, kissing her as he twirled her around.
“Tell me you’re staying again,” he said, but before she could answer, he kissed her one more time.
“I’m staying.”
“I think I’ve waited my whole life to hear you say that.” He brushed his lips over hers and realized he had been waiting, but he wanted a lot more than a night. “I’m actually going to wake up with you in my arms tomorrow?”
“For as many tomorrows as you want until I go home.”
He was torn between elation and heartache, knowing their relationship had an end date. Or at least a pause date. One look in her loving eyes and elation won out. He set her down and led her to his truck.
“Where are we going?” She hurried to keep up in her high heels.
“We’ll bring your stuff inside later. I
have a surprise for you.” He helped her into the truck. When he climbed in on the other side, she scooted over next to him. That simple move made his heart sing. He was dying to give her the news about his contract being ratified for the theater, but he’d planned a special way to share it.
He drove to the Majestic, and as he parked out front, he said, “I know how much you love this theater, so I thought we’d finally see a movie here.” He grabbed the cooler and backpack he’d prepared and led her through the long grass to a blanket and the equipment he’d set up behind the theater.
“Is that a projector? We’re literally watching a movie here?”
“Yup. The projector runs off my computer and projects onto the back of the building. Beckett clued me in to these awesome speakers, which will give us the feel of being at an outdoor theater.”
“This is going to be so fun! But what if we get caught? People will see the lights from the road.”
The theater sat at an angle, hiding the far side of the rear from view. Making out had never been a problem, but she was right; people would surely find out they were watching a movie. He didn’t care who knew as long as he had this special night with Grace.
“It’s okay. I hear the owner’s a great guy.”
“If you say so. I guess the worst that can happen is someone tells us to leave. I can’t believe you set all this up. When did you become so tech savvy?”
“I didn’t. Beckett helped me. That guy knows computers as well as he knows numbers.”
“That’s not surprising. Most of his business is online. I can’t believe you left your equipment out here. Anyone could have stolen it.”
He chuckled. “You’re not in the city anymore, sweetheart. No one’s going to steal my stuff.” He held up a note he’d left on the projector that read TOUCH MY PROJECTOR AND YOU’LL NEVER WALK AGAIN. THINK TWICE. REED CROSS.
“Who’s going to mess with you, after all?” she teased.
“Nobody smart, that’s for sure.” He smacked her bottom. “Sit your pretty butt down and let me woo you with my dating-Grace expertise.”
“Aren’t you eloquent.” She took off her heels and sat on the blanket.
He visually devoured the flash of smooth thighs her skirt revealed as she tucked her legs beside her.
“Hey, greedy boy,” she said, bringing his eyes up to hers. “No dessert before dinner.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. “Bet I can change your mind.”
“Did you bring whipped cream?”
He swore under his breath, although it was just for show. He had no intention of getting naked with her right then. When they were kids, they could barely contain themselves long enough to get undressed, and short of the field behind the theater, his uncle’s truck, Grace’s car, or the empty houses his uncle worked on, there weren’t many places they could go to be alone. That was no longer a problem, and he wasn’t about to chance giving anyone a peek at their intimacy.
“I don’t have whipped cream, but I did run over to Wishing Creek. Tonight we’re celebrating.”
“What are we celebrating?”
He handed her a burger and fries from the Creekside Diner where they used to eat. “You’ll figure it out.”
She gazed down at the telltale wrapping, which had pictures of Wishing Creek on it. “Bacon cheeseburger?”
“What else is there?” He reached into the cooler and withdrew a to-go cup. “And one, probably soupy, half chocolate, half vanilla milkshake. Know what? I did bring whipped cream. There was some under the lid, but I think it’s probably melted by now. I know you’re probably used to being wined and dined, and I wrestled with having a restaurant deliver here, but—”
“Reed, this is beyond perfect. You know what you get with being wined and dined? Pin-straight posture, pleases, and thank yous.” She grabbed his shirt and tugged him forward, taking him in a fiercely passionate kiss. When their lips parted, she flashed a sinful smile and said, “That’s what you get when you do the most romantic thing in the world for me. I love that you remembered, and I love that you won’t let me forget who we were—who I was—because you know what? All my best memories were made here, too.”
Chapter Fifteen
REED AND GRACE sat on the blanket eating dinner as the title, Mrs. Henderson Presents, appeared on the back of the building.
Grace gasped. “I love this movie! Have you seen it?”
“Yes. Do you mind watching it again?” The movie was about a woman who inherited an old run-down theater. She reopened it as a performance hall, and it goes down in history. Reed had assumed Grace would have already seen the movie, as she had always been a movie buff, but it was the ideal movie to help reveal his exciting news.
“Not at all. It’s hilarious.” She popped a fry in her mouth. “Mm. I haven’t gone to the Creekside Diner since I moved away. The fries are so salty and delicious.”
“It takes me back to those vinyl booths, where we’d share fries and kiss like we weren’t sneaking around.” He leaned in and stole a salty kiss. “Sneaking around was hot, but…” He kissed her again, deeper and longer. “Kissing you whenever I want is freaking insane.”
“Is that what we’re celebrating? That we’re not hiding?”
“Nope.” He took a bite of his burger as the movie began. “But if I owned this place, I’d be sure to serve salty fries just so I could get your salty-fry kisses.”
They snuggled as they ate, watching the movie. Every so often Grace would lean closer and guess at what they were celebrating. “Our one-week anniversary?”
“No, but that’s worth celebrating,” he said.
A short while later a group of teenagers came out of the darkness from the direction of the parking lot.
“Hey,” one of the kids called over. “Mind if we watch from the field?”
“Not at all,” Reed said.
They continued walking deeper into the field, fading back into the darkness. Reed noticed that cars were slowing to crawls as they drove past, and he imagined the people inside craning to see what was going on behind the theater. He and Roy had checked out the interior together, and Roy had captivated him with stories of his youth and the good times he and Ella had at the Majestic. Reed found himself wondering if any of the people in the cars had been around long enough to remember when the theater had been open, more than thirty-five years ago.
A little while later, Grace tipped her face up to his and said, “It’s not your birthday; that’s in October.”
He kissed her softly. “I’m glad you remembered.”
She was quiet for the longest time, and he was anxious to tell her, but it was fun letting her try to guess.
A few more people meandered past, some asking if it was okay to join them, others simply assuming so. Reed didn’t mind the intrusions. They kept their distance, and he had everything he needed right there in his arms. The world could explode around them and he’d go out a happy man.
Grace finished her fries—before her burger, just like he remembered—and said, “I’ve thought about you a lot over the years, even when I tried not to; you were always there.”
“And I always will be.”
He set his drink down and moved behind her, leaning her back against his chest so he could hold her closer. She cuddled into him and they watched in comfortable silence.
When the woman in the movie found out she’d inherited the theater, he dropped another hint. “It’s so weird how theaters sort of drop into people’s laps.”
“Mm-hm.”
A little while later, they were engrossed in the film, laughing at a scene, when Reed became aware of someone else’s laughter in the air. Several people’s, in fact. He glanced up at the road and saw a line of cars parked along the curb and people sitting on the grass.
He looked over his shoulder at the field behind them, where throngs of people were watching the movie. “Holy cow, Grace. Check this out.”
She leaned around his body. “Oh my gosh. There must be more than fifty p
eople here. How did we not hear them? This is awesome! Can you imagine what this would be like if your deal on the theater comes through? You could do this—” She sat up on her knees, and her eyes widened. “That’s it, isn’t it? Is that what we’re celebrating? Did your deal on the theater come through?”
He laughed and pulled her into a kiss.
“Finally, baby. I’ve been trying to give you clues all night.”
“Oh my gosh! Reed! This is going to be yours? Can you imagine all the things you can do with it? Outdoor movies, community plays! Can we go inside? I’ve never been inside. You’ve been inside, right? You had to if you made an offer.”
She was talking a mile a minute. He spotted her sisters, a few of the Jerichos, and a handful of other people approaching, but he didn’t want to slow Grace down.
“I can’t believe you held this in all this time, and here I was missing every clue. Theaters dropping in people’s laps!” She laughed. “I’m so thickheaded. I was too into the movie and you to even think of anything like that.”
“I can’t believe you set this up and didn’t even invite us,” Sable said.
Grace spun around as their friends converged on them.
“Dude, what the…?” Trace turned his palms up to the sky. “You’ve got a whole theater going on out here with all these Meadowsiders? What are we? Chopped liver?”
“No, man,” Reed answered. “This was a date that got overrun.”
Morgyn and Sable sat on the blanket. Sable reached for what was left of Grace’s milkshake and said, “Awesome date night. Good thing you two weren’t naked. Practically the whole senior class from Oak Falls is behind you.”
“I saw Chet, Boyd, and Janie on the hill,” Morgyn added. “And Mom texted, asking if I knew about someone holding movie night at the Majestic.”
“That’s it, Reed! Movie night at the Majestic! You have to do that!” Grace pleaded. “Think of it. Old-fashioned popcorn machines, soda fountains. You could show movies for families, romantic comedies for date nights…”
“Whoa, what do you mean he could?” Brindle asked.
