when she spoke. “He doesn’t have to talk to be proud of you. He might be the kind of father who shows it in other ways.”
I thought about that, hoping it was true. While I considered it, there was a loud scream from the house, and I caught sight of a couple of coeds near the fire. One of the guys had his arms wrapped around a girl and was pushing her forward; she was laughing and fighting him off. Brad and Susan were snuggling together nearby, but Randy had vanished.
“You said you don’t know most of the people you’ll be living with?”
She shook her head, her hair sweeping her shoulders. She swiped at another strand. “Not too well. We met most of them for the first time at the sign-up, then again today when we got here. I mean, we might have seen each other around campus now and then, and I think a lot of them know each other already, but I don’t. Most of them are in fraternities and sororities. I still live in a dorm. They’re a nice bunch, though.”
As she answered, I got the feeling she was the kind of person who would never say a bad thing about anyone. Her regard for others struck me as refreshing and mature, and yet, strangely, I wasn’t surprised. It was part of that indefinable quality I’d sensed about her from the beginning, a manner that set her apart.
“How old are you?” I asked as we approached the house.
“Twenty-one. I just had a birthday last month. You?”
“Twenty-three. Do you have brothers and sisters?”
“No. I was an only child. Just me and my folks. My parents still live in Lenoir, and they’re happy as clams after twenty-five years. Your turn.”
“The same. Except for me, it’s always been just me and my dad.”
I knew my answer would lead to a follow-up about the status of my mother, but to my surprise, it didn’t come. Instead she asked, “Was he the one who taught you to surf?”
“No, I picked that up on my own when I was a kid.”
“You’re good. I was watching you earlier. You made it look so easy, graceful even. It made me wish I knew how.”
“I’d be happy to teach you if you want to learn,” I volunteered. “It’s not that hard. I’ll be out tomorrow.”
She stopped and fixed her gaze on me. “Now, don’t make offers you’re not sure you intend to keep.” She reached for my arm, leaving me speechless, then motioned toward the bonfire. “You ready to meet some people?”
I swallowed, feeling a sudden dryness in my throat, which was just about the strangest thing that had ever happened to me.
The house was one of those big three-storied monsters with the garage on the bottom and probably six or seven bedrooms. A massive deck circled the main level; towels were slung over the railings, and I could hear the sound of multiple conversations coming from all directions. A grill stood on the deck, and I could smell the hot dogs and chicken cooking; the guy leaning over it was shirtless and wearing a do-rag, trying to come across as urban cool. It wasn’t working, but it did make me laugh.
On the sand out front, the fire was set into a pit, with several girls in oversize sweatshirts seated in chairs circling it, all pretending to be oblivious to the boys around them. Meanwhile, the guys stood just beyond them, looking as if they were trying to pose in a way that accentuated the size of their arms or sculpted abs and acting as if they didn’t notice the girls at all. I’d seen all this at Leroy’s before; educated or not, kids were still kids. They were in their early twenties, and lust was in the air. Throw in the beach and beer, and I could guess what would happen later; but I would be long gone by then.
When Savannah and I drew near, she slowed before pointing. “How about over there, by the dune?” she suggested.
“Sure.”
We took a seat facing the fire. A few of the other girls stared, checking out the new guy, before retreating into their conversations. Randy finally wandered toward the fire with a beer, saw Savannah and me, and quickly turned his back, following the example of the girls.
“Chicken or hot dog?” she asked, seemingly oblivious to all of this.
“Chicken.”
“What do you want to drink?”
The firelight made her look newly mysterious. “Whatever you’re having’s fine. Thanks.”