Lil in the middle seat holding hands with Bernie and Gary

Lil sat in the first row of the back section of the movie theatre, watching the second half of That Love Thing, in the middle between her brother Gary and Gary's girlfriend Bernie Bernstein.

Gary and Bernie had their near arms behind Lil's shoulders, and their far hands crossed over to hold her hands. Like Lil was at the center of a love pretzel! Except her own arms were spread wide, not crossed. Lil squeezed their hands now and then when the movie was exciting or surprising or had a big feelings moment. Or when Billy Royce's voice came up on the soundtrack.

This is what she needed. Mom and Dad tried to help her feel better, but Mom was all "shake it off, move along" and Dad was "Steve's not your problem to solve, princess" and sigh. But a nice day shopping and a surprise lesbian make-out with her brother's girlfriend and a movie with Billy Royce songs and Gary and Bernie wrapping their arms around her, this was it.

A surprise lesbian make-out, Lil pondered. She was straight, right? Boyfriend boyfriend boyfriend was her history. But Bernie had known just where to touch her, and the salesclerks at "Hot" had lit both their fires with some, well, borderline inappropriate touching. Though it was a lingerie, swimsuit, and sexy leisurewear place, so... Lil didn't know, maybe that was kind of normal.

Up on the screen, That Love Thing had turned to a scene where the romantic leading lady was being consoled by her funny fat girl bestie, and hugs and tears turned into kissing and wobbling in an awkward standing embrace until they tripped and fell with a squeak and a squawk onto a bed and there was some intense face to face staring, were they or weren't they gonna?

Bernie squeezed Lil's hand. She turned to see her brother's girlfriend with her face half-lit by the movie.

The women on screen, from the sound of it, were gonna.

She and Bernie had an intense face to face stare like the women on screen. Lil's heart beat fast and her face felt hot. She squeezed Bernie's hand. But her other hand was in Gary's, and his other arm was around her shoulders resting over Bernie's.

Lil licked her lips. So did Bernie.