Bryson and I hit a Chinese restaurant down the street, and I tell him all about my misadventure at Alpha Chi over dinner and the fact I still sort of wish I could get in. I leave out the “air of mystery” portion of my argument. But now that we’re ditching work for a little alone time, I’m seriously reconsidering that whole air of mystery thing.
His chest thumps with a silent laugh. “You’re a non-conformist. I like that. Most girls would have lied, and you told the truth. That’s what I like about you—you’re so innocent, it’s cute.”
A slight rail of alarm spirals through me.
“I’m not that innocent.” My entire face darkens to the shade of the maroon tablecloth, giving away the fact I totally am. I’m not sure I like the idea of being “cute” either.
“Hey”—he leans over the table and clasps my hand—“there’s nothing wrong with being innocent. I swear, I didn’t mean it like an insult.”
My eyes grow heavy, and I inspect every item on the table because I can’t bring myself to look up at him.
“Yeah, well”—my fingers loosen from his grasp—“I guess I’m ready and willing to find someone to defile me.” Not really. This all feels so achingly desperate that a part of me wants to run all the back to Prescott Hall and ask one of Jeanie’s many bare ass suitors to have their way with me just to take the edge off.
Bryson pulls his sad, pale eyes over me. “Trust me, the last thing you want is for someone to defile you.” His glassy eyes roll over mine. He looks serious as death. “Promise me you’ll hold out for something better.”
Hold out? Sounds like tonight isn’t ending with a private wrestling match like I hoped it would.
“What could be better?” I hold my breath a moment as he considers this. Earlier, on the boat, he said he was hanging up the scoreboard, looking for something better. I was sort of hoping that could be me.
Bryson licks his lips. His eyes widen for a moment as if he were about to say something then aborts the effort.
He clears his throat. “I think you should fall in love, Baya.” His gaze dips to the table then rides back up over my features. “I think you should fall so head over heels you don’t know what’s up and what’s down anymore. You deserve to be worshiped and cared for. The last person on the planet who deserves you is some kid trolling for a quick hookup. Trust me, you’re the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on. You could have your pick of the litter.” He bears into me a moment with his steely gaze. “Any guy would be crazy not to want you.”
Any guy…. And suddenly it’s becoming clear that dinner is just dinner.
A moment thumps by with our eyes never losing their stranglehold on one another. The waiter brings the check and drops a fortune cookie in front of each of us.
“Let’s see what the future holds.” I give an impish grin as I pop the package open and pull out the cookie. “We’re supposed to say ‘underneath the sheets’ after we read our fortunes, that makes it a lot more fun.” And accurate I want to add but don’t.
“You first.” He rubs his leg against mine, nudging me.
“Okay.” I pluck the thin strip of paper out with its tiny red font. “A pleasant surprise is in store for you,underneath the sheets.” I hold it up victoriously as a laugh bubbles from my chest. Dear God almighty let this be so. Amen.
“Sounds like a goodtime will be had by all.” His brows tweak as he pulls out his fortune. “Conquer your fears or they will conquer you.” His expression dims as if that tiny piece of paper had been speaking directly to his heart.
“Underneath the sheets.” I give his leg a little kick.
He offers a quiet laugh, but his eyes are still throbbing with grief.
“What has you so afraid, Bryson?” I ask below a whisper. It’s becoming painfully obvious that the past is still very much holding him hostage.
His clear eyes dart up to mine. “Maybe it’s you.”
After dinner we hop back in his truck, and Bryson drives us down narrow tree-lined roads as we wind our way up the side of the mountain.
“Witch’s Cauldron, okay?” He darts his eyes to me before firming his stare back over the open highway. The fog settles in, and the headlights illuminate the night, blinding and white.
“Sounds great.” My heart thumps once unnaturally. That’s where we went a few weeks back. It was private and tragically romantic. This time we’re short on donuts and coffee, no beautiful sunrise to admire, with only ourselves to keep each other entertained.
Bryson rounds his hand over the steering wheel as we pull in just beneath the pale blue boulders. We get out, and he helps me climb onto the lowest rock that overlooks the hot spring.
“Looks like we’re all alone.” I scoot into him and take in the night magic that’s brewing around us. The pale glow of the moon highlights the water while the pines hover above like guardians that Cole himself sent to protect my virginity. Little does he know Bryson is pretty interested in me keeping it in tact for that one special guy as well.
A lone wolf howls from somewhere deep in the forest, and a chill runs up my spine.
“Doesn’t sound like we’re alone.” Bryson gives a dark laugh, low and sexy, but despite my passive reaction I’m scared to freaking death.
Screw it. “God, we’re going to get eaten alive.” I bounce over and practically land in his lap. “Sorry,” I say, sliding off his knee. “I’m not a fan of rabid beasts with sharpened canines.” Unless, of course, he were the rabid beast with sharpened canines in question. I have a few delicate places I wouldn’t mind him taking a bite out of. The imagery alone makes me whimper, and my vagina is back on its knees begging to make this happen.
