Page 44 of The King Contract
“I never pickedyou for an action movie chick,” I muse, as the opening scenes ofTrue Liesbegins.
“Let me guess.” Millie plops down next to me. “You thought I’d be more of a documentary or romcom kind of gal?”
“Yep, and I wouldn’t judge if you were.”
Millie and I are on an action movie binge. We’re knocking back drinks with ease and Millie’s put on another bag of popcorn to tide us over until dinner. She’s already torn through the bag of sour lollies I got for her. Note to self: the woman still loves candy that hurts your gums to eat.
Millie lets out a wistful sigh. “Give me a muscly man shooting guns and blowing stuff up any day.”
I smile. “You don’t like chick flicks?”
“Chick flicks can be enjoyable, but I find them too far-fetched.”
I nearly choke on my mojito. “But you believe a man would be able to leave enemy territory through the front door and not be killed?”
“Arnold Schwarzenegger can do anything,” she says, deadpan.
I burst out laughing and Millie grins, racing to get the popcorn and hopping back on the couch so she doesn’t miss anything. It’s the most at ease I’ve seen her since we started hanging out. She told me she didn’t like the spotlight, but if I’d known it was as simple as giving her a few drinks and putting Arnold Schwarzenegger on to get her warmed up, I’d have done this on day one.
I forgot how good this movie is and how much I loved Arnie as a kid. It’s clear how much Millie loves it. She mutters random lines to the movie under her breath. I don’t even know if she realises she’s doing it.
When Arnie’s co-star Tom Arnold, says,Women. Can’t live with ‘em. Can’t kill ‘em,I nearly spit out my drink. “This is your quote in the yearbook!”
Millie smiles. “True Liesis my favourite movie of all time. I don’t know why I always loved that line. Maybe because it reminded me women are a force to be reckoned with.”
My gaze settles on her profile. “You’re not what I expected.”
Millie tilts her head, our faces close together. “What did you expect?”
“Not a woman who watches action movies, makes mean mojitos and tells me my abs look like mice.”
Millie cackles this time. “I think the Romans were onto something there, you know.”
The room might be dark apart from the TV light and occasional flash of lightning, but I don’t miss how Millie’s gaze flickers to my still-bare abdomen. She lingers for an extra beat before pulling her gaze away, her eyes glued to the screen. It sounds egotistical, but I’m used to women and even men giving me the once-over, especially when I’m shirtless. But something about winning over Millie, who has been hell-bent on not seeingme as anything other than a business partner, is victorious, like I’ve smashed through a steel barrier.
My gaze lingers on the side of her face, her skin flickering in the light from the television. She’s barely wearing a lick of makeup, but her dark lashes make it seem like she’s spent time colouring in her eyes.
She must sense me staring at her, because she looks back at me, her eyebrows raised. “What?”
It’s got to be the low thrum of booze running through my veins that gives me a kick of courage. “I’m sorry.”
Millie’s eyebrows squish together. “For what?”
“For not remembering you,” I admit. “From school.”
Millie’s gaze softens. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.”
“It’s not a surprise you don’t remember me. I wasn’t exactly popular. I didn’t recognise you when I first saw you.”
“But youdidremember.” I run my hand over my stubble. “You took every photo of me at school. How do I not remember?”
Millie gives me a half smile. “Because you were an arrogant, self-involved brat?”
“I deserve that.”
Millie leans her head on the back of the couch, smiling lazily. “You can’t help it if you don’t remember me. It was a different time in our lives.”
