Page 34 of Backward Motion

Connor took a swig of his beer. “I know, right? I saw the movie as a kid and always remembered that part. I had no idea it would be so popular, though.” Despite arriving early, they’d found the theater packed and had been lucky to get seats. Connor hadn’t realized it was such a buzzy event.

“Lizzie does draw a crowd.” Sam gave him a sidelong glance. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but tonight is the gayest I’ve seen you.”

“Was it the Skittles?” They’d devoured a giant family-sized bag Connor had bought at the concession stand.

Sam snorted. “No.Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor. It was a bold choice. I guess you always seem a bit more subdued in town. How much of that is you, and how much of it is you passing?”

A spike pierced Connor’s chest. “Ouch.”

Sam paled. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No... uh...”

“I’ve just been thinking a lot about your situation.”

“My situation?” Connor echoed, trying not to sound defensive.

“What does this look like going forward? Would we only be together in Hastings or Grand Island? Or could we walk around Oakdale holding hands?”

Connor stared down at his beer, his mind churning. He didn’t have an answer. He couldn’t tell everyone without telling his father, and he was too afraid to do that. After all he’d done to disappoint the man, this would be the final nail in the coffin.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled.

He felt the warmth of Sam’s hand on his knee under the table. “No, I am. You’ve been so patient with me, and here I am pushing.”

“But you’re right,” Connor admitted, heavy with shame. “It’s not fair to expect you to hide.”

Sam shrugged and released Connor’s knee. “Hiding has its perks. I got to fulfill my lifelong dream of making out in a movie theater.”

Connor grinned. He’d finally figured out what the closing credits were there for. It was the first time he’d had a reason to stay all the way to the end.

“So, you’re big on music, almost a decade behind on television,” Sam said, changing course. “Where do you stand on movies?”

Connor pursed his lips. “The older, the better. I want to see the idea before it became a trope.”

“A purist. Why am I not surprised?”

“Less of a purist and more of an archivist. I blame my dad. He refused to watch anything but MGM or ESPN when I was growing up. I had to pick between classic films and sports. Anyway, I feel like movies today are too flashy. Too many explosions and car chases.”

“Oh my God, you’re a secret septuagenarian.”

Connor held up his hands. “Guilty as charged. What about you?”

“I used to watch movies all the time, everything from rom-coms to thrillers. But my favorites were more out of left field—quirky stories with an obscure cast. I guess life got too busy, because I haven’t gone to see a film in the longest time. I’m completely out of touch with what’s popular these days.”

“You’re not missing much. Think overhyped, predictable reboots.”

“Oh, the humanity!” Sam picked up his napkin and brushed the crumbs from his fingers.

Connor took another sip of beer and tried not to think about how nice it was to be here with Sam. They could be talking about the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and it would still be the best night out he’d had in forever.

“Did you know Brian’s working on a graphic novel?” Sam asked.

“TheChevalier Chronicles? Yeah, he’s shown me a couple pages. It’s neat.”

“He was telling me it helps him to have a project to work on. My mom’s got this whole setup at home where she makes these beaded handbags and sells them online. Not because she needs the money but because she gets a kick out of it.” Sam looked reflective. “I don’t even know the last time I did something creative for fun. Anyway, it got me thinking, maybe I should start a project of my own.”

“Like the screenplay?”