Redeemed (Dirty Air 4)

Mission accepted.

33

Santiago

“Please tell me you’re joking.”

“I wish I was.” I press the button to start up the projector. The screen rolls down from the ceiling, and the lights dim on their own.

Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy moments like this with Chloe. I’ll take domestic bliss in my at-home movie theater any day over the real deal. Crowds aren’t my thing, and it’s not like I can hide my celebrity status from the world and go on a normal date.

Chloe stands from her side of the couch. “You’ve never seen Pretty in Pink? Like ever?”

“No.”

“Are you even human?”

“Unfortunately.”

She laughs and snatches the controller straight from my hands. “We must fix this.”

“Why?”

“Because that movie set my standards way too high for romance.”

Now, she has my attention. “Tell me more.”

“The whole reason I am obsessed with eighties movies in the first place is because my foster mom only had a VHS system—no cable TV.”

Well, this is a depressing start to her story.

“Brooke and I binged every tape she had over and over again. We still have a yearly marathon to this day to commemorate our childhood.”

“And what movies are your favorites?”

Her whole face lights up. “Pretty in Pink, no duh. And then The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Say Anything. I mean that scene with the boombox is one of my favorite movie scenes ever.” Her enthusiasm grows as she explains different movies I have no clue about.

I ask her questions just to hear her talk. I

t’s too much fun, watching her expressive face brighten every time I question something. Who knew being clueless about a topic could be this enjoyable? Chloe rolls her eyes when I make an obvious mistake and smiles when I remember a detail she shared a few minutes before.

Every damn second of the conversation is worth it.

I clear my throat. “We better get started if we ever plan on watching all these movies.”

“You want to see them?”

“Of course. I’m curious to see how someone woos a woman with a boombox outside of her house.”

“With a meaningful song, of course. Bonus points for nostalgia if you play ‘In Your Eyes.’”

“I’m mentally noting all of this.”

“Do you plan on wooing someone in the near future?”

“You never know. Someone told me wooing is important.” I grin.

She smiles to herself as she settles back onto the opposite end of the couch.