PAST FANTASIES

“I think we did everything,” I say. “It’s a small town.”

Also, the longer we stay out and about pretending to be a couple, the more confusing this gets. I’m showing him real things I care about, and he’s really listening. All the while his hand is spread on the small of my back. Or his fingers are looped in my belt loop. Or his hand is holding mine.

It’s like the engagement ring isn’t enough for Nathan. He’s constantly claiming me with little touches that let the world know I’m his.

I hate it and I love it at the same time.

“I want you to get to spend time with your parents,” Nathan says. “But keeping up the lie in front of them is...”

“Draining?” I say.

Nathan nods.

I wrack my brain for something else to do. Something private, where neither of us will feel the need to act quite so well.

“There’s a movie theater,” I say. “How do you feel about old buildings that smell like buttered popcorn?”

“Very positively,” Nathan says.

He pays our tab, then we head out. His hand is back on the sma