Dunc was having a similar staring issue. Amanda’s red sweater, a conservative look that revealed nothing, made him smile. It looked nice and cute on her. She went through the hassle of taking her lovely golden-brown hair for the evening. Dunc would have loved to run his hands through her hair and feel how thick it was. Look into her warm brown eyes. Kiss her beautiful lips. Dunc shook that thought away. No. Do not go there. Do not think about things you cannot have. This was not a date. This was being a friend to a neighbor who needed one.
The dinner was fun and relaxed. There were a few moments of silence. Then Dunc asked Amanda what she did for work since she already knew what he did. Amanda was a graphic designer. She had a wide variety of professional clients and a steady stream of work. Dunc already knew what Amanda did but didn’t want to let onto that little fact. She didn’t need to know that he had her full work history in his hands before she had even moved in.
“So, since you don’t think my job’s a real job since I can be up past midnight, how is yours a real job when you can have the same hours?” Dunc had smiled at her as he asked. That night she had yelled at him about having a real job continually came back to haunt her.
“I didn’t have any idea what you did.” Amanda had blushed, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue.
But he did. “What kind of job did you think I had?”
“I don’t know.” Amanda squirmed. “I am sorry I said that.”
“What kind of job?” Now Dunc was really curious.
“I don’t know. Maybe a personal trainer? Bartender? A guy with a huge amount of inherited money and no job?”
Dunc laughed. “I hope the reality wasn’t a letdown.”
“Oh, no. You have a lot of skill.” Amanda grinned. His laugh was a pleasant hearty laugh.
“Thank you.” Dunc’s cheeks started to turn a rosy pink at the compliment.
They enjoyed their dinner with brief moments of idle chatting. It was relaxed and not at all like a real date. Or maybe, this was what dates should have been like if Amanda had been with the right person. Dunc’s mother would come in every few minutes, asking if they needed anything, then scurry off to the kitchen.
***
They ended up on a comfortable couch in the McCormick’s den, watching a recent werewolf movie. Dunc and Amanda started out on opposite ends with a large bowl of popcorn between them. As the night progressed, the bowl moved onto the table, and they were sitting closer to each other. It had gradually happened over the last hour. One of them would subtly move a tiny bit closer to the center of the couch when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Then the other would do the same when they thought the other wasn’t looking.
“I like this one because the werewolf isn’t the bad guy.” Dunc leaned over and whispered to Amanda.
“Yeah, but they have that stupid psychic connection between the werewolf and her boyfriend! That’s so overdone!” Amanda groaned. Her shoulder hit Dunc’s, and he didn’t flinch away.
“It is, but imagine being able to know the one you’re supposed to be with. Without all the doubts and wrong choices.” Dunc dared to lean against her. “That would make life so much easier.” It would have. That was the way it was supposed to be, but no, he had to be in love with a human who would worry about those very things.
“It would, but that’s not reality,” Amanda smirked. “Why exactly did you pick out a romantic monster movie?”
“The Shape of Moonlight had good reviews.” Dunc shrugged. “I like it. The romance isn’t the driving factor. The story is.”
“He’s going to end up rescuing her, isn’t he?”
“Fighting next to someone isn’t the same as rescuing them, Amanda.” Dunc smiled and shifted closer to Amanda. She did the same. They were sitting side by side now with their shoulders touching. They sat in silence, staring at the TV. Dunc successfully fought off the urge to put this arm on the back of the couch above Amanda’s head. Every part of him wanted to be even closer to her. He hadn’t realized how starved he was for casual physical contact. It wasn’t that he dared to imagine kissing or hugging her. He just wanted to feel her warmth next to him. It was also exciting that she wasn’t moving away from him.
He had spent decades convincing himself he didn’t need it because he couldn’t have it in the first place. A few attempts at relationships when he was younger had sworn him off of the entire process. He couldn’t compete, so he took himself out of the competition entirely. He could look and not pursue. It was safer that way.
Amanda was different. Even when she had been angry with him, she never looked revolted. There were brief moments of eye contact that were confusing. Habit told him to be cautious. His head told him to be wary. His heart had other plans and encouraged him to respond to her.
“Why do these movies all have teenagers in them? Why don’t they ever make these movies with people in their thirties and forties?” Amanda began picking at the movie. “It’s like nobody falls in love unless they’re 20 or under!”
“Probably because those of us old people know better.” Dunc grunted in amusement.
Amanda went quiet. Then she shifted, mumbling something like, “You’re warm.” She sighed, and Dunc suddenly found her head resting against his chest. Her left hand ended up laying limply on his stomach while
