“It’s not snobbery. Seeing a great movie is one of the biggest pleasures in life, but they don’t seem to make many good ones anymore these days. Especially in America. It all seems so aimed at the lowest common denominator. Is it snobbish to want more than that for my entertainment?” Lou had given Meredith a similar rant during their date, which Meredith had gone along with. It was kind of a test to see if some of their preferences—and ultimately their personalities—would match.

“God no. I fully agree with you. And I’ll raise you one. I once went on a quest to find the last ten movies Isabelle Huppert starred in, then watched them all in one week. With subtitles, of course.”

“I’m impressed.” Lou grinned. “And a little surprised.”

“Why surprised?” Mia grinned right back at her.

“People who look so objectively pleasing as you do usually like the more commercial films.” Was she flirting again? No wonder Mia had been blowing hot and cold at the Pink Bean earlier. Lou would too if she kept getting mixed messages like this.

“There we go with the objectivity again,” Mia said. “I’m not that interested in anyone’s objective opinion on how I look. I would like to know what you personally and totally subjectively think about how I look.” Mia fluttered her eyelashes and cocked her head.

Lou felt a flush rise from her neck to her cheeks. “I think you know.”

Mia sunk her teeth into her bottom lip and shook her head. “I don’t.”

“I asked you out, Mia. Under the influence, when my inhibitions were totally lowered and I allowed my instinct to take the reins.” She pursed her lips, as though saying it was hard, while it was actually pretty easy, especially when she was staring at Mia’s pretty face. “I think we both know I find you attractive.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.” Mia held up her hands. “But I do think we’ve just entered the realm of very conscious flirting. I won’t try to cast blame on who started it, but I think we should retreat. We are just hanging out, remember?” Mia followed up with the widest smile she could muster.

“Just find us a snobbish movie to watch already.” Lou detected a tingle in the pit of her stomach.

Mia pored over her newspaper again. Lou watched her and just the simple act of gazing at Mia as she read filled her with an inexplicable, perhaps even obscene given their past, amount of joy.

“Charming, but hardly a masterpiece,” Lou said when they exited the cinema.