“And why didn’t you call first?”
Justice smiles and says, “Because then you’d know I was coming.” Justice looks at Maggie. “Do you know who M. Night Shyamalan is?”
“The director? Of course.”
Justice shoots me a look of approval, and then looks back at Maggie. “What’s your favorite movie of his?”
She makes her way over to the bar and takes a seat. She seems comfortable. I’m glad. I didn’t want this to be weird, but I also wasn’t planning on introducing them so soon. But hiding her would have been even weirder. “Hard to say,” she says. “Signs, obviously, but The Sixth Sense will always hold a special place in my heart.”
“What’s your stance on The Happening?” Justice asks.
“I’ve never seen it.”
Cody opens the bag of popcorn and says, “Well, Maggie who is not a stepmom, tonight is your lucky night.”
Justice pours the popcorn into two bowls and hands one to Maggie. She pops a piece in her mouth as Justice and Cody make their way to the living room.
I blow out a breath, although I’m not sure why. They’re eleven years old. Not sure why all of that just made me nervous.
“I like him,” she says.
“I told you he was great.”
She stands up and puts a piece of popcorn in my mouth. “I might even like him more than I like you.” She walks past me, spinning to face me as she goes. “Nobody puts Maggie in a closet.”
I laugh. “Clever.” She walks away, into the living room. I follow her, because that’s what boyfriends do, right?
Justice and Cody have taken the main sofa directly in front of the TV. Maggie and I sit on the loveseat. She leans against me, positioning herself long-ways so she can see the TV better. She props her feet up on the arm of the couch.
Justice starts the movie, and I’m not even disappointed that I’ve seen it four times. I’m just happy this is how the night has ended up.
Tomorrow, that thought might scare me, knowing what I’m getting my heart into with this girl.
But right now, I just want to live in the moment.
I’ve been trying to get Bridgette to warm up to Maggie since Maggie moved into their complex several months ago. As it stands, Bridgette is still pretty cold.
She’s sitting on Maggie’s bed while I help Maggie pick out an outfit for tonight, so we’re making progress. She hasn’t been over here since Maggie moved in, other than one time when Maggie had to stay a few nights in the hospital for an illness. Bridgette came to get some clothes for her, but only because Warren made her.
“I think the black shirt would look better with these,” Maggie says. “I’m gonna try it on.” She grabs the shirt I brought over and takes it to her bathroom, closing the door behind her. I look at Bridgette. She’s on her back, staring up at the ceiling, yawning. I pull out my phone and text her because I don’t want Maggie hearing our conversation.
Sydney: You’re making this uncomfortable.
Bridgette reads her text and then looks at me, holding up a frustrated hand.
Bridgette: What?! I’m just being me.
Sydney: Yeah, no offense, but that’s the issue. Sometimes people have to make an effort NOT to be themselves in order to make situations around them a little more tolerable. You haven’t said a word to her. Make an effort. Ask her questions.
Bridgette: I AM making an effort. I’m here. Besides, I don’t have any questions for her. What would I even say? I don’t know how to do fake.
Sydney: Ask her about her graduation. Ask her about when we went bungee jumping. Ask her how she and Jake are doing. Lots of potential conversation starters if you just try.
Maggie walks out of the bathroom just as Bridgette drops her phone onto the bed and rolls her eyes.
“I like that shirt on you,” I say to Maggie. She’s turning back and forth in the mirror.
I look at Bridgette and make a face. Bridgette sits up dramatically, slapping her palms against the bed. She clears her throat.
“So…Maggie. How are…you and Jake doing? Well? I hope?” She forces a smile, but sounds like a stiff robot.
Maybe this was a bad idea. I glance over at Maggie, and she’s just standing there, staring at Bridgette with her head tilted.
I glance back at Bridgette and shake my head. “Wow. You really don’t know how to talk to people.”
Bridgette throws her hands up and says, “I told you!”
Maggie looks at me. “Did you make her ask me that?”