"You like Jelly Bellys too?" Deanna nodded eagerly. "Amazing!"
"We're not that different, Taylor," she said, picking up her drink.
"We certainly aren't." I leaned my arms on the table and looked at her. "Why don't we get out of here?"
"Sounds good," Deanna smiled. "Any ideas for a movie?"
"Well, there's this romantic comedy that just came out..." I trailed off.
"Oh, yeah! Only One Chance. I wanted to see that one! I love romantic comedies."
"So do I," I agreed. "Okay then, let's hit it." We gathered our stuff and headed out to my car, where the radio broke an uncomfortable moment of silence.
"I could listen to music forever," Deanna sighed.
"One more thing we have in common." I glanced at her to notice her eyes seemingly penetrating into my soul. I released one of my hands from its grip on the wheel and slid it into hers. Neither of us interrupted the moment with words, but let the seconds glide by while the radio reverberated the car with a steady beat. Gabby's words crept into my head, what she had said when I was feeling lonely: "When you're least expecting it, your girl will run into you and you'll know it." Now, finally I knew it, and moreover, she'd run into me literally!
I pulled into a parking space right as the song ended. We got out and strolled into the theater, arm in arm. After buying tickets, we headed to the concession stand. "I'd like a large popcorn and a cup of water..."
"Anything to drink for your girlfriend?" the guy behind the counter asked.
"Water too please," Deanna mumbled, blushing slightly. We gathered our food and entered the theater.
"Middle sound good?" I questioned. She readily agreed. "You first....girlfriend," I mimicked the guy. She hesitated for a moment, then met my eyes.
"All right, boyfriend."
I stood staring out the huge windows across the green hills that surrounded the house as the sun slipped lower on the horizon. The moment was so tranquil that I wanted it to last forever. Just then, the back door opened a crack, barely enough for Karine and Zoe to slip through. From the terrorized looks on their faces, I knew something was up.
"Guys?" I stepped towards them as they turned to go upstairs. They whirled around, eyes wide. "Something wrong?"
"No...n...nothing," Karine stammered. I almost laughed, wondering how she thought she could pull that off.
"You guys have known me for your entire lives, right?" I asked them. They nodded. "You know I don't tell secrets, right?"
They both nodded and scampered upstairs. I sighed and turned back to the window. So much for that.
"Gab?" Isaac asked, poking his head around the kitchen doorframe.
"Yeah?"
"Ellie's on the phone."
"But it's so late in Italy..."
"She needs to talk to you."
"Okay." I went and took the phone from him. "Hello?"
On Zac's urging, I picked up the phone on the plane and called Gabby. I have to admit, I'd never been so glad to hear her voice.
"Gabby?"
"Ellie? Something wrong?"
"Sorta. You remember my father?"
"Yeah...why?"
"Well, in our hotel room, I found this clipping of him."
"What?!"
"They're having a memorial at the crash site and I'm on my way to say goodbye."
Gabby sighed. "Be good for me."
"I will. How's everything there?"
"Zoe and Karine are probably in some sort of trouble, and Taylor's on a date."
"With who?"
"This girl he met. I have yet to trap him and question him."
"Am I detecting jealousy?" I teased her.
"No, no...I'm happy for him. I knew I couldn't stay his number one girl forever."
"How's Isaac?"
"Right now, he's cramming Chex Mix into his mouth."
I laughed. "You two still all over each other?"
"No comment..."
"Touchy, touchy!"
Gabby laughed. "I should let you go...this is really expensive."
"All right. Behave with Ike."
"I think we're going to watch some TV....just relax a bit. But we'll be careful."
"Give my love to all. I'll talk to you soon."
"Good luck, and tell Zac you need him, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks, Gabby."
"Sure. See ya!"
