But when it was already happening for real, I was struggling to stay awake, yawning every few minutes. The romance had arrived seven years too late, and my body knew it even if my mind was still processing the paperwork.
Dominic must've noticed. "This is the movie you picked," he said. "You don't like it?"
"It's fine. It's good," I said, not even bothering to fake enthusiasm.
He pressed his lips into a thin line, clearly not convinced. Just as he was about to say something, his phone buzzed.
Without a word to me, he stood up and walked out of the theater.
The movie ended, and Dominic still hadn't returned.
Annoyed, I was about to call him when I heard a familiar, sickly sweet voice from a distance.
"Oh, Dominic! You're so amazing!" Penelope squealed.
I turned and saw her practically bouncing up and down, clutching a massive stuffed toy as she leaped into Dominic's arms, planting a kiss on his cheek. He held her by the legs, laughing softly, and the sound of that laugh was something I hadn't heard directed at me in years. Maybe ever. But the moment his eyes landed on me, his smile vanished.
The laugh died like a switch had been thrown.