After a fantastic dinner at Stephanie’s, they walked to the movie theater at the other end of town. Alex loved walking through the busy downtown area with her hand tucked into the crook of his elbow. He loved the sense of connection he felt to her. He loved that she was easy to talk to, compassionate and understanding of the challenges he faced. He also loved how hot her ass looked in those jeans.

At the theater, they shared a laugh over the one-man show as Alex paid the man in the ticket booth for the tickets, and then the same man moved to the other side of the counter to serve them popcorn. Then he collected their tickets at the door to the theater.

“This place hasn’t changed one bit since I was a kid,” Alex said. “It even smells the same—mildew and popcorn.”

“Folding chairs?” Jenny asked as she took in the ramshackle theater.

“I take it this is your first time at Island Cinemas?”

“Plural? I see one cinema, and calling it that is being very generous. And yes, it’s my first time.”

“Oh, you’re in for a very special treat. Shall we make ourselves comfortable in the folding chairs?”

“That’s an oxymoron.”

“Are you calling me a moron?”

She elbowed his ribs, making him grunt with laughter as he strategically led her to the back row.

“What’re we doing way back here?”

“You’ll see.”

More people filtered into the theater and took seats closer to the screen, leaving Alex and Jenny with the back mostly to themselves.

“I’m beginning to see the method to your madness.”

“Just wait.” He offered the popcorn to her and took a huge handful for himself.

“Didn’t you just eat?”

“I’m a growing boy, and you can’t go to the movies and not get popcorn. It’s un-American.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so.”

The lights in the theater went off, plunging them into darkness. Alex put his arm around her and dragged her metal chair closer to his. At the top of the far left wall, windows allowed in the sweeping headlights of cars coming down a hill into town. The lights illuminated almost everyone in the theater, except for those in the back row.

“You didn’t tell me this was a drive-in theater.”

“That’s part of the charm of the place.”

“It would appear to me that you might’ve done this before.”

“Done what?”

“Commandeered the back row with a date.”

“Are you accusing me of something?”

“Yes, I’m accusing you of being an opportunist.”

“I’m really hurt by that.”