Episode 8

Catherine Howland:

After an Italian dinner—the best pasta I’ve tasted in my fifteen years—Landon brought us to his apartment.

I’m still content as I set down my purse and backpack in the room my brother has allocated for me.

There are two small bedrooms and one larger one for Landon. It’s meant for a small family; very cozy and set in a building that seems quite secure. I gather the rent must be steep for a college student, but our family has never been financially constrained.

Landon always turns down money from our parents, so I've no clue how he manages all of his expenses.

"I got it because no one else was willing to take it," he says, appearing in the doorway.

I whirl around, my heartbeat quickening from the slight startle of hearing him behind me, or perhaps it’s the usual reaction I have around Landon.

"Was I talking to myself?" I grimace, half-embarrassed in case I was speaking my thoughts aloud.

"No, but it was written all over your face."

"Oh." My cheeks burn hotter, and I don’t need a mirror to know they’re flushed.

I watch him smile at my reaction.

"Why was no one keen on taking it?" I ask.

"If I tell you, do you promise not to freak out?"

"No." I place my hands on my chest, already nervous about his pending revelation.

"Then I won’t say."

"That's worse. I'll imagine something even more dreadful than it probably is."

He laughs this time, stepping away from the doorframe and approaching me. He’s so tall that I have to tilt my head up to maintain eye contact.

Landon's eyes are like our mother's, but his are much warmer and comforting, reminiscent of the hot chocolate I enjoy in the mornings.

"I was teasing you," he says, reaching for a stray blonde lock and tucking it behind my ear, his fingers briefly brushing my skin before he pulls away. "The place belongs to a friend's father, so they let me have it at half price."

"You're not lying to me?" I squint.

He smiles, taking my hand and leading me out of the room to the living room.

"I'm free this afternoon; you could show me some of your favorite movies. I know you love watching them over and over."

I can’t forget he didn't answer my question, but the prospect of spending an afternoon watching movies with Lan trumps my need for an answer.

“I’d love to watch 'Pride and Prejudice'; it’s on Netflix,” I say through a bitten lip, struggling to contain a wide smile. “It’s my favorite movie, well, it's in my top favorites. I have a long, very long list of favorite movies you definitely need to see.”

"We've got time for your very long list," he says, gesturing for me to sit on the couch as he turns on the TV and browses Netflix.

Lan sits beside me, choosing the movie I just mentioned and watching it through to the end. Afterwards, he listens to my entire spiel about the film, which includes details that weren’t included from the book, because yes, the movie is based on a book, and of course, I’ve read it multiple times too.

I adore book and movie romances—sad, heartfelt, happily ever after, or thought-provoking, I love them all.

"What's next on the list?" he asks after my review.

"'Pretty Woman' is perfect to watch next, or 'Mujer Bonita' however you’d like to call it. I'd find it impossible if you haven’t seen it.”

"I never had much opportunity to watch movies,” he says, before adding, “I doubt it's on Netflix."

"It's on Disney+."

"I’ll get a membership, and we can watch it."

"Does it bother you, paying for another service?"

"Of course not, we'll use it for the long haul while you're here."

"Does that mean you'll keep watching whatever I want?"

"Unless you want to do something different, we'll keep going through your very long list of favorite movies."

"I love my very long list of favorite movies, so I doubt there’d be other plans for our weekend together," I assure him.

We could use the time to go out and visit places, even hitting the library would be great, but selfishly, part of me wants him all to myself, alone in his apartment.

I enjoy being close enough that a few mere inches are all that's needed to touch him.

So no, I won't tire of movie afternoons if it means I can stay for hours next to my brother, both of us seated on the same couch, discussing scenes from the films and snacking on treats.

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