Part 69 (1/2)
What happens next? We went way beyond innuendo earlier and we're about to have the discussion over whether he takes me home. To bed.
Others leaving the theatre push past us, not paying attention. Will's phone rings interrupting the trip back in the direction of what we may, or may not, do next. With an apology, he steps aside and answers.
Will stands beneath a poster for the latest action movie, and I stare at the actor above him. Will isn't famous yet, more infamous than anything; but will he be as recognisable as the guy on the poster one day? The concept is weird. He's not an ordinary guy, that's for sure, but what will happen to him? The man resting against the wall, long legs stretched in front of him could never be average, and my thoughts drift back in the direction of earlier.
I finally accept he isn't Nate anymore; this is Will. This is the same guy who I spent those weeks with. The idiot who lied to me but didn't play games. Do I give him a chance? Compared to the other guys I've come across this year, he's an example over why I shouldn't judge by appearances.
But the lies niggle.
Thirsty from salty popcorn, I indicate to Will I'm heading to the kiosk to grab another drink. The evening's last showings begin soon, and a smattering of people hang around the lobby. I queue, sandwiched between two groups of loud guys, and wrinkle my nose at the smell of beer. A few minutes later, I reach the front of the line, and as I'm about to step up to the counter, a couple of tall guys push by me.
I stumble to one side and blink at them in surprise as they place their order. Not somebody to shrink away from these situations, I storm up behind them.
”Excuse me, I was next,” I say.
One of them looks around and wipes a hand across his face. ”We're in a hurry.”
”That's not my problem. I queued here for five minutes!”
”Tough.”
His mate sn.i.g.g.e.rs and my irritation grows. I gesture at the young girl serving, who has an empty box hovering over the vat of popcorn. ”I just want a bottle of water, please.”
”Hey! She's serving us!” retorts one of the guys.
Ignoring him, I pull some coins from my purse and hand them to the speechless girl. As she turns to retrieve a bottle from the fridge, the guy begins a loud tirade against me. My hands shake with anger more than fear as I take the bottle, keeping my eyes off his.
”What's happening?” Will appears next to me.
I step away. ”Nothing. It's fine.”
”Are they talking s.h.i.+t about you?” he asks, his eyes hard.
The taller guy takes two large cups of c.o.ke and looks back. ”Keep your girlfriend under control, mate.”
The switch in Will's temper is palpable, as he stiffens and steps forward. ”Keep your f.u.c.king mouth under control.”
The other guy turns, two boxes of popcorn in his hands. ”Hey, he's the dude from Ruby Riot.”
”Who gives a s.h.i.+t? C'mon.” As he walks away, the guy knocks into me again, deliberately.
All this over a b.l.o.o.d.y box of popcorn and a bottle of water. ”You d.i.c.k!” I retort.
”Whatever, you stupid b.i.t.c.h.”
”What the f.u.c.k?” Will's quiet anger simmers over and he steps in front of the guy before he can move. ”Apologise to Fleur!”
”Or what?”
”Apologise,” he growls.
The two men are the same height, and I can't be sure Will won't do anything stupid. I grab his jacket, aware at the growing interest in the situation from people queuing nearby.
”Will. Forget it.” Testosterone hangs in the air and I take Will's hand. I've witnessed this kind of thing before on nights out with guys, and I'm relieved Will's sober. ”Will!”
The challenge continues, until Will steps forward, right into the guy's face. ”Talk s.h.i.+t about Fleur again and I'll f.u.c.king punch you!”
”We're late for the movie!” complains the guy with the popcorn. ”Ignore the f.u.c.ker.”
Relief replaces the anxiety as the drunk guy steps back, breaking the standoff. ”Jesus, man.”
Without an apology, the two stride off toward the theatres. Scared Will is about to walk after them, I pull him in the opposite direction.
”f.u.c.king a.r.s.eholes,” he mutters and grips my hand. ”You okay?”
”Yes. Don't do that again! I hate when you make a public display of us, you know that.”
”I don't cope well with people who upset somebody important to me.”
”I was dealing with it. You made the situation worse.”
”Didn't you hear what he called you?”
”Yes! But I don't care, what does it matter?”
”It matters because if someone upsets you, they'll learn it's a f.u.c.king bad idea!”
This is reminiscent of the Will earlier, ready to hunt down Ethan because he thought the guy was responsible for the mood Shaun put me in. The one who warned Ethan off once before.
”Seriously, Will, I can look after myself. I stood up for myself and was about to walk away.”
Will shoves his hands in his pockets and mutters something under his breath. He's tense, face dark with anger still. I place a hand on his cheek and he takes hold.
”Sorry. I don't want anything to upset you, Fleur.”
”And I don't want to date a guy who threatens to beat up anybody who looks at me the wrong way.”
”But ” I silence him with a raised brow. ”Fine. I'll try.”
”Try?” I lace my fingers through his. ”Oh, Will. You're not what you seem are you?”
”In a good or bad way?”
We head towards the exit, through the gathering late night crowds, and he grips my hand. ”I haven't decided yet.”
”Huh.”