Page 90 of Downfall

I officially sold my father's house, my childhood home, to a nice couple with two teenage girls. At least my old bedroom will see some life again, as the girls were already giggling and sharing secrets on their phones as they walked through the halls.

It’s only eight when Victoria and Amelia excuse themselves to go back to the hotel, citing jet lag. They thank Mom and Dave, hug both Declan and me, and say their goodbyes to Matt, who gets picked up by a girl in a jeep with bright purple hair. My mom and Dave tell us they’re going to turn in early because they have a big day of selling flowers at the festival tomorrow. We say goodnight, and they head upstairs, my mom giggling as Dave pinches her side and whispers something in her ear. It warms my heart to see her so happy and in love. She’s sacrificed a lot and deserves happiness more than anyone I know.

“Hey,” Declan says when we hear the snick of their bedroom door closing. “Come here. I want to show you something.”

He takes my hand, leading me out the front door. It’s still warm out, cicadas buzzing in the distance. I think he wants to show me something, but then he pulls me over to the truck we rented, opening the door for me.

“We have to drive there,” he explains.

I nod and get in the car, and he reaches over to click my seatbelt into place.

We drive in comfortable silence, with him drumming his fingers on the wheel and me watching the palm trees whiz by. After about forty minutes, the scenery looks familiar despite the years. I recognize the burger shack on the side of the road and the gas station on the corner, notorious for attracting students with the munchies. We’re in my college town.

I look over at Declan, but he keeps his eyes on the road, not giving anything away.

Finally, we turn onto a side road and enter the parking lot for the drive-in movie theater. I haven’t been here in years, but I used to drag my roommate every Thursday night. Classics night. I notice right away that there are no other cars, which is weird because it’s Saturday, usually a big night for the theater. There’s also no movie playing, so maybe it’s closed?

“What are we—” I start, but Declan is already putting the car in park and hopping out of the driver’s side. He walks around the truck to open my door and offers his hand.

He leads me to the back, and that’s when I notice the blanket set up in the bed of the truck. He pulls down the tailgate, helping me up, and I’m able to take it all in. Pillows are propped up in the back, fairy lights spread along the sides of the blanket, and a wooden crate overflows with Red Vines and white cheddar popcorn.

“Declan,” I say, turning toward him, my voice clogged with emotion. “This is…” The words get stuck in my throat.

“It’s a little late, but happy six-month anniversary,” he says, taking his phone out and typing something before pocketing it. Then he takes my hand again, pulling me down to the blanket. “Let’s get comfortable. The movie should be starting any minute.”

I look around again. There’s still no one here. “Did you—” He takes a package of Red Vines out of the crate, ripping it open and handing it to me. “Did you rent out this whole drive-in? For us?”

“Yeah.” He says it like it’s no big deal, like he didn’t just make this grand gesture because we’ve been married for half a year. He takes a piece of licorice from the package, ripping off the top with his teeth and chewing. Now it makes sense why he wanted to rent a truck instead of one of the fancy cars he usually likes. He usually hates trucks. He complained the entire time we borrowed Luke’s truck again to bring the rest of my stuff over from the cottage when I officially moved in with him a couple weeks after my birthday.

I look down at the package of bright red candy. “How did you even know about this place?”

“Honestly?” He swallows the licorice, his throat bobbing with the motion.

“Yes, honestly.”

“I came here once a few years ago when we were in college. I may have stalked your Instagram once or twice, so I knew where you went to school.” He clears his throat. “Anyway, I came to California during winter break junior year. To this town. To see what you saw. To experience what you were experiencing. I found this place, and when I saw the sign for classic movie night, I imagined you coming here. By yourself, of course, because if I thought you came here with another guy, I would have barged into your dorm room and thrown you over my shoulder.”

I imagine him doing just that, and while now it makes heat pool in my core, at the time it would have made me hate him even more.

“Ever since we got back together, I knew I wanted to take you here one day.”

“This is—” His eyes dart to mine, boyish and hopeful. “The sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

He relaxes, throwing an arm around my shoulders and pulling me in closer. He smells like cherry and leather from his jacket, which he insists on wearing, California heat be damned.

“Dec, I⁠—”

“Shhh. It’s starting.”

Sure enough, the screen in front of us turns to gray and the opening credits of Casablanca appear. A smile pulls at my lips as we sit and watch the movie together. “You know,” he says as the narrator starts speaking. “I’d already seen this movie before that day at your house.”

“What?” I mock-gasp, turning to face him, but he can see right through me.

A smirk plays across his lips. “You knew?”

“You were mouthing the lines the entire time!”

He shakes his head. “Why didn’t you say anything?”