Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(78)

Damian looked a bit unsure himself, too, or maybe that was her reading into things.

“The way I see it, we have two options on how the rest of the night plays out,” he said, fingers flexing on her hips. “Option one is me leaving so you can get some much-needed sleep.”

She wrinkled her nose as if she smelled something foul, making him grin. “What’s the second one?”

“We could watch a movie … or something.”

She blinked, thinking she’d heard wrong. “A movie?”

“Maybe the one Greta and you were talking about earlier tonight. What was it? Your favorite?”

“Say Anything…? With John Cusack?”

“That was the one.”

She lifted her brow. “You realize you’re suggesting we watch an eighties rom-com together, right? I’m always up for a night of Cusack and grand gestures, but you need to know what you’re getting yourself into before you fully commit.”

“Grand gestures?” It was Damian’s turn to look like he’d smelled something rotten.

She fought a smile and failed. “Do you have something against grand romantic gestures, Dr. Adams?”

“Only the point of them, why people expect them, and what’s so great about them.”

Her mouth opened and closed as she tried—and failed—to form words. “So here’s how the rest of the night’s gonna go, doc.”

“I’m listening.”

“While I change into my favorite movie-watching yoga pants, you’re going to sit your sexy rear end on my less-than-comfortable couch and mentally prepare yourself to have your opinion on the grand gesture changed.”

He grimaced. “How about a nice, ear-quaking action flick or maybe a horror movie?”

“Oh no, you opened this can of worms and now it’s time for you to go fishing.” Chuckling, she disappeared behind her privacy screen.

“Do you want me to make popcorn or something?” Damian asked.

“Sure. I have some microwavable bags in one of the left-side cabinets.”

Cabinets opened and closed while she slipped into her favorite fleece-lined yoga pants and double-checked herself in the mirror. Her rosy cheeks could’ve been from the walk to her building, or maybe it was nerves.

Because she was about to watch one of her most-loved rom-coms with her newly minted FB. Talk about an upside-down world.

By the time she finished making herself somewhat presentable, Damian had commandeered her empty fruit bowl and filled it with popcorn. Sitting side by side made sense to share food, but it also wreaked havoc on her libido, which informed her she wasn’t as tired as she’d previously thought.

Every brush of arms and bump of fingers, Rose became more and more aware of Damian and less invested in the movie. At least until his first snort of disbelief and subsequent mumbles.

Pulling her gaze away from the impending iconic boom box scene and resting it on the man next to her, she lifted a single eyebrow. “Do you have an issue?”

“Nah. Just … watching the movie.” He tossed a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

“And inserting your very own Statler and Waldorf commentary.” She nudged her chin to the TV screen where John’s character climbed out from his car, trench coat flapping in the breeze. “This is a really sweet part of the movie.”

He snorted, and in went another handful of popcorn.

“I don’t speak man-snort, so you’ll have to tell me exactly what you don’t find poignant about this scene.”

“How about everything?”

With a loud gasp, she yanked the popcorn bowl away from his outstretched hand. “You did not just say that.”

“Pretty sure I did.” At her continued not-so-mock outrage, he chuckled. “He thinks standing in front of her house, playing a song in the dead of night, will make her change her mind. She broke up with him for a reason.”

“Not a good one.”

“Just because it’s not one you like, or agree with, doesn’t mean it’s not valid. They had a good time together. Great. I’m all for the having of fun. That doesn’t mean they’re good for each other. Her father had a point. Give him a pen and let him move on.”

Rose turned all her attention to the stranger sitting next to her and contemplated dumping the entire bowl of popcorn over his head. “How can you say that?”

He looked amused at her appalled expression. “I move my lips and the words spill out. It’s easy. You try it.”

“That is a romantic gesture.” She pointed to the TV screen where John Cusack still held up a boom box, “In Your Eyes” playing loud.

“That is disturbing the peace, and not to mention the girl’s trying to sleep. Let her sleep.”

“She’s not sleeping. She’s in turmoil. How can you not see the poignancy of this moment?” She stared at him, aghast. “He knows he’ll get in trouble, and he knows it may not even work, that it’s a long shot, and yet he still does it. To show her where he stands.”

“He’s standing in front of her house with a boom box. Sorry, little witch, but I don’t see what’s so grand about it.”

With a low growl, Rose stopped fighting the urge to throw popcorn at him and upended the entire the bowl over his head. The bastard laughed, and Rose laughed, too, dodging a handful of popcorn he’d picked up and tossed back at her.