Once we were outside, he asked, “Which way should we go? Left?”
He pointed toward the row of buildings hugging the shore, beyond which lay the dark expanse of the ocean. The breeze blowing from that direction lifted my hair and tasted salty.
“Or right?” he asked, pointing in the opposite direction. Uphill from where we were, a dense conglomeration of tall buildings nearly blocked out the night sky.
“I don’t understand.” I gave him a puzzled frown. “The ocean isn’t on the way to my uncle’s house.”
“I thought we could walk along the shore a bit, then get on the train to Southside at Roosevelt. It’s a different way, but it’s possible that a way you haven’t tried before can be exactly right.”
“Sure.” I cocked my head, trying to read between the lines. Was he attempting to convey a deeper truth?
“It’ll take longer, but I owe you a stroll on the beach.”
“Ah, okay.” My heart skipped a beat as I got his meaning, or at least I hoped I did.
“You’re all keyed up.” He gave me a long look under the light. “I think you need the unwinding time. Am I wrong?”
“You’re right.” It was uncanny how Bryan knew things like that without me having to explain.
“C’mon then.” He threw his arm around my shoulders, and I experienced the usual full-body buzz from the connection as we turned away from the club and walked downhill on the sidewalk.
We both went silent, apparently lost in our own thoughts. Curious about his, I glanced at him a couple of times—once as we crossed from one block to the other, as we skirted the cannery by the water, and again as we descended the stairs from the street level to the sand.
The lights from the buildings we passed and the streetlights we walked under revealed Bryan’s creased brow and thoughtful expression, but what his thoughts were exactly, I wasn’t sure. I could sense a heaviness in him, though, and knew without him saying it that he wanted to take this walk for a reason.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, unable to stand the suspense anymore.
“Why do you think something’s wrong?”
“You seem upset. Have I done something to upset you?”
He removed his arm from my shoulder. “No. Not really.”
That sounded ominous, and it was cold by the water, colder without his warmth. I started to bring my arms up to wrap them around my shoulders, to remedy the situation for myself, but he grabbed one of my hands and threaded his fingers together with mine.
My heart raced, and my body flooded with heat. I didn’t need my own remedy. I wasn’t the tiniest bit cold anymore.
“So not really means maybe you’re a little upset with me.” Peering at him with only the moonlight to illuminate his handsome features, I tried to gauge his mood.
“I wanted to talk to you. Away from everyone else.” Bryan stopped walking and moved in front of me. “Somewhere pretty. Somewhere private.”
“What did you want to talk about?” I asked, my heart beginning to pound to a new rhythm of anticipation.
Was I reading the signs correctly? It was late. The beach was deserted. The only sound was the ocean lapping the shore. The moon over the water made the sea shine like black glass, the silver sphere reflected in it reminding me of his eyes.
“War,” he said. “Are things better for you with him?”
“How do you mean?” I thought it best to narrow that very broad question.
“Tonight. With all the reps, the setup’s a lot like the last time you took the SAT.” Bryan’s gaze seemed to intensify. “When you and War argued. When you broke up.”
“I had that same thought earlier.” I sighed. “War said he’s making allowances for me, for my dream. But . . .” I sighed and bit my lip.
Bryan’s gaze dipped to my mouth, and my stomach flipped. “But what?” he asked softly.
“But his own dream takes precedence, and he forgets mine. I understand. His dream isn’t wrong, just different, and probably more realistic, less of a long shot now than mine.”
“Your dream isn’t unrealistic.” His brows drew together. “Aren’t your practice scores better? Aren’t you more prepared?”
“Yes, they are, and I am. Thanks to you.” I gave him a soft smile, wishing I could give him so much more.
“I believe in you.”
I swooned. “That’s what I want War to say,” I mumbled, then apologized for speaking the unfiltered truth. “I shouldn’t have said that. He’s your best friend and my boyfriend. I