Page 111 of You Fall First

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What's the word, man? Who’s coming to Baby Magnetron?

Me

Sorry. I’ll ask everyone now. Been kind of distracted this morning.

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Uh-huh. By WE?

Me

Maybe.

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Okay. No pressure. Even if it’s just the three of you, that’s great.

Yeah, maybe for you it’s great, I think.

For me, these days, the number three throws me way off balance. I silently watch as Jo plates the waffle for Dutton, then helps him choose his toppings. Berries and brown sugar, a drizzle of maple syrup, then a flourish of whipped cream.

I clear my throat. “Excuse me again,” I say. “Who wants to see a movie today?” Dutton looks up from his waffle. Jo tilts her head.

“Not on the little iPad either,” I add. “Or the TV. I’m talking about watching a movie on the big screen at a theater.”

“MEEEEE!” Dutton throws his arms in the air and waves them once, twice, three times. Then he freezes and stares at me.

“Something wrong, bud?”

He drops his arms. “What’s a theater?”

“Ha. You’ve never been to a movie theater?”

“Nooooo,” he crows.

“Well, it’s this big building where there are a lot of seats, and the screen is the size of a house.”

His eyes go wide, and he hops off his stool. “Yesssssssss!”

While he runs circles around the kitchen, Jo shakes her head, chuckling. I wait for her to make eye contact with me again, and she lifts a hand to her cheek, right by one of those dimples.

“You coming with us?” I ask.

“If you need me.”

“Dutton will want you there.” I pause for a moment. “And I do too.”

Her lips curve up. “In that case, you’d better call Paige. Like, immediately.”

“Why?”

“To see if she’s okay with Dutton going to the movies for the first time with you.”

“Not just me,” I say. “We all are going to the movies.”

We.