Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 56831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
He looked up at me and asked, “Are you trying to make me feel better about your wrongful imprisonment?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want you to be upset.”
Romy kissed my cheek and told me, “You’re so sweet, Marcus.” He was the only person on earth who’d ever say that.
I was horrified to feel myself blushing, so I let go of him and looked around as I asked, “Are you hungry? I am, so we should order dinner.”
He grinned at me. “You suck at taking compliments and are clearly changing the subject, but sure. I’m hungry, too.”
We found the room service menu and got comfortable on the couch. He began to study it like there’d be an exam later as he murmured, “There are too many choices, and a lot of this stuff sounds really fancy. The prices are outrageous, too. Seventeen dollars for a small salad! Not that I want a salad, but still.”
“Please don’t worry about the cost. Just get whatever you want.”
He flipped a couple of pages and his eyes lit up as he said, “That sounds good.” But then he frowned and muttered, “Never mind. It’s on the children’s menu.”
“So what? If there’s something you want on there, then get it.”
Romy glanced at me. “I don’t want you to think I’m an unsophisticated shlub.”
“I’d never think that. What sounded good to you?”
“The grilled cheese sandwich and fries.”
“Great, then that’s what I’m ordering for you.” I took the menu from him and scanned the page it was open to. “I’ll get myself the kids’ macaroni and cheese. That sounds delicious.”
“It’ll probably be a small portion.”
“Then I’ll get two of them. Now, let’s see what’s for dessert.”
I turned to the last page and moved closer to him, so we could both read the menu. “I know you don’t usually eat like this,” he said. “Not with that body.”
“I don’t, but I’m on my first real vacation ever, so why not indulge? And speaking of indulgences, which dessert sounds good to you?”
He chewed his lower lip as he studied the menu. Finally, he said, “I can’t decide. They all sound amazing.”
I picked up the phone on the end table and pushed the button for room service. When someone answered, I ordered our dinner, added two cokes, and said, “Please also bring us one of everything from the dessert menu.”
Romy audibly gasped and shook his head. When I glanced at him, he whispered, “It’s too much! The cheapest dessert on that menu is fifteen dollars.”
I turned my attention back to the person on the phone and asked her, “Are there any special request desserts that aren’t included on the menu?” After I listened to her reply, I said, “Perfect. Please also add half a dozen chocolate-dipped strawberries.”
Once I completed the order and hung up, Romy said, “We’ll never eat all that.”
“Between the two of us? Sure we will.”
He leaned against me and took my hand. “I’m not used to being spoiled like that. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
“While we wait for our food, tell me something about you, Marcus.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know…what’s your favorite movie?”
“I don’t have one.”
He turned his head to look at my profile and asked, “Because there are too many awesome ones to choose from?”
I shifted a bit so I could see his face. “Because I haven’t seen very many.”
“Really? I probably watch ten movies a week. Granted, a lot of those are repeats. I love to come home from work and unwind with a comfort rewatch.”
“So, what’s your favorite?”
He shifted his gaze and began fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. “You’re going to think I’m a dork if I tell you the truth. I should make up a cooler answer, like Fight Club.”
“I’m not going to judge you for what you like. Please tell me.”
“Okay. My favorite movie is Up.”
“Is that its full name? Just Up?”
He looked surprised. “You’ve never heard of it?”
“No. When was it released?”
“In 2009.” As he filled in the blanks, he murmured, “I guess you were in prison then.”
“Yeah, I was.”
“Not that it’s a movie you would have watched anyway. I was thirteen when it came out, so you must have been about twenty. You’re thirty-four now, right? I tried to do the math, based on some of the stuff you’ve told me.”
“That’s right.”
I got up and opened a cabinet, which housed a large TV. As I returned to the couch with the remote and pulled up the On Demand search bar, Romy said, “You’re not looking for it, are you?”
“I am. Let’s watch it after dinner.”
“I can name at least fifty movies you’d probably enjoy more than that one.”
“But it’s your favorite, so I’m curious about it.” When I typed in the name, an image of a house and a bunch of balloons appeared on the screen. I asked, “Is it a cartoon?”
“It’s animated.”
I grinned at the slightly offended way he made that distinction. “Noted.” After I cued up the movie and set aside the remote, I shifted around to face Romy. He was frowning, so I told him, “You look upset. We don’t have to watch this movie if you don’t want to. I just thought—”