Our favorite theater is the one on the edge of town and that is where we go on the humid Friday night of our third date. It’s monsterous and new, staffed by the kids we sat in grade school with who have yet to muster the courage to fly from the nest. He makes note of this idleness and chuckes smugly as we enter. I loathe his pompous expression but he is very gentlemanly toward me. He holds doors and walks on the side nearest the road of the sidewalk. But here, his hand finds its way to my lower back as we walk through the lobby of couples seated on benches. There are many nods toward him that go unacknowledged, a few hesitant handshakes from the ones I recognize. I try not to notice how childlike and pale the boys’ hands look in comparison with his as they greet one another. When we get to the box office, Timothy from seventh grade algebra peers out at us. He is still chipper and undeveloped. “How’s it going, bud?” My date’s Mississippi-tainted voice seems deep and rich as he hands him his credit card. His other hand slips around the curve of my hip and lands on my back pocket as I grin to Timothy. “It’s good, uh, enjoy your show.” My date winks when he assures him that we will.
He is touching me throughout the entire movie, a still hand. He does not try to kiss me. Does not try to slither his grasp somewhere hidden. Over my fingers, dancing over the inside of my wrist. He only looks at me from the side, his face blushing crimson when I turn to covertly notice. But I am not stealthy when I burn him with closed lips and a fiery stare as he leaves three times to work.
It is late when the the film is over. At the exit stands another boy from middle school, Pete. He remains the chubby, acne ridden kid I remember but I smile broadly. I ask him how he is. There is excitement riding his voice when he tells me he is well, going to his dream college in the fall. “Needed a rest period, first, huh?” My date is flashing his brilliant white teeth, brings his mouth to the top of my head. “In any case, I’m glad to hear it. Do good things.” There is sarcasm in his words and I send Pete a silent apology. I try to act oblivious to the fact that my date is leaving the theater with nine hundred dollars more than he came with. I try to pretend that I don’t know what’s going on, that I don’t know why he has visibly shrank, that I can’t smell his anxiety. He tells us to have a good night and I tell him to have a better one, acting ignorant that his eyes are only on my date.
Tall and wealthy and feeling all-powerful, he wraps his chiselled arm around my waist. I feel the muscles of his biceps flex against my back as his fingertips dig into my skin. I shudder at the bruises that will be smeared under my shirt by morning.
He shuts my door firmly and gets into the drivers seat. He smiles devilishly. His fist finds my hair and tugs, gently, his tongue slithers into my mouth. He places a cigarette between my lips, lights it with his zippo. “I’m damn glad I chose you to have on my arm. Did you see their faces?” I only think of how undeserving those boys were and how deep his kiss is, penetrating my soul it seems. I try not to notice the sharpness of his jaw when we swivels his head and backs out of the parking spot. His mossy eyes struggle to remain on the road as his shiny red mustang zooms effortlessly through the night.