20 Questions

Chapter 35

The guys are already in the lobby when we exit my room. We load into the shuttle bus that takes us to the cinema. They have already picked some movie that I have never heard of so I can only imagine the idiocy that awaits me.

"Y'all remember the Christmas that Patrick got us all kicked out of the theater?" Kevin says, punching Patrick in the arm playfully.

Patrick pipes up in his defense, "A guy gets drunk and shows his ass in a theater one time and you never let him live it down."

"Dude! You literally showed your ass!" Hunter yells before turning to me to fill me in on the details. "This idiot snuck a fifth of something into the theater and was lit before the damn previews were over. The movie starts and he found it to be way funnier than any of us. Hell, anybody in the theater for that matter. There was a guy two rows behind us that got pissed at how loud Patrick was laughing and started talking shit. We all ignored the dude and told Patrick to keep it down, but it didn't work. The guy eventually had enough, stood up and started yelling at us. This dipshit stands up and tells the guy that if he didn't like his laughing, he could kiss his ass. The guy told him 'why don't you come up here and make me?' and Patrick accepted his invitation. Before we know it, Patrick stands up, drops his pants and bares his scrawny white ass to the guy and everybody in the theater. After that, we were not-so-gently escorted out of the building and told not to ever come back."

All the guys are laughing and I can't help but join at the stupidity that is Patrick. It reminds me of something Jansen would do. I can't wait to hear more of these stories as Hunter and I continue to grow our relationship. I rest my head against the window and daydream about what it will be like to hang out with Hunter and all his buddies once we get back home, wherever home is for them. I know one thing for sure, I am excited about introducing Hunter to my parents. Speaking of my parents, I haven't even called them yet to wish them a Merry Christmas. Once I get to the theater and out of this loud bus, I will call them. We are still early for the movie so I should have plenty of time.

"Hey, you ok?" Hunter asks, pulling me out of my daydream.

"Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking that I need to call my parents when we get there. I haven't wished them a Merry Christmas yet today." His face falls a little and I suddenly realize why. Jenna, that was so inconsiderate. He doesn't have parents to call and wish a Merry Christmas to and I just threw that in his face. "Babe, I'm so sorry. I didn't think when I said that. I should think before I speak."

"No! No, don't think that way. I'm happy that you have such a great relationship with your parents. I promise, it's fine. I stopped being jealous about that issue a long time ago. I decided living in the past was only going to cause me unnecessary pain. I'm hoping I will be able to tell them Merry Christmas myself next year."

"How about this year?" I ask.

"Hold up. What do you mean?"

"Well, I was going to Facetime them when we got to the theater. I would really like for them to see your face. I would also really like them to see my face all lit up from how happy you make me."

"Really?" he says. I nod and his face beams with excitement. "Wait. They don't even know that I exist or that we have been together here."

I run my hand across his face and tell him, "Actually...I kind of already told my dad about you. We are super close and I couldn't keep something this big from him."

"You told your dad about me?"

"Yeah, I hope that's ok. I don't keep anything from him and you have become very important to me. If you are important to me then you are important to him."