“I graduate in May,” I remind him as I add my number to his phone.
“You can come back to give me a tour,” he says, grinning.
I watch Auður as he programs my number, saving it under my name. I’m not sure why, but I really love that he doesn’t add something like RDU or Ambassador to my name. I’m just Brevan.
Once he puts his phone in his pocket, Auður hugs me too. Then Einar joins us, and I smile widely… and maybe also steal some of their heat. The wind is cold again.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t schedule a solid three days just to tour you around Iceland,” Auður says. “There’s still so much to show you. So many cool things I think you’ll enjoy.”
“Maybe I can come back someday.”
“If you do?—”
“Whenyou do,” Einar corrects Auður.
“Right. I mean,whenyou do, make sure you look us up. We’ll give you all the epic tours,” Auður says.
“We’ll even get Alexander to tour us around since he knows how every damn thing has been formed,” Einar says with a laugh.
“That would be great. I learned so much from him that I didn’t even know was possible. I didn’t realize black sand was made from volcanic rocks being pummeled by waves over years and years and years.”
“Water is dangerous. Arguably the most dangerous natural force, but that’s up for debate,” Einar says.
We don’t stay long. I say goodbye to everyone else and come back around to Auður and Einar for another hug before climbing back onto the shuttle bus. I never thought I’d make friends on this trip. Certainly not from Iceland.
But then, my dad used to say that I could make friends anywhere. All I needed was my smile and charmingly innocent personality. I’m not entirely sure what he meant by that. To this day, I’m not sure. Am I innocent? Even at almost twenty-two? I don’t know, but I try to keep that innocent charm since Dad always seemed so fond of it. So proud.
It’s not often that I think about my parents, but as I stare out the window, alternating between admiring the view and watching Kendrick’s reflection, I wonder if my dad would be proud of me for having been selected to be an ambassador. I think he would have. I think Mom and my grandparents would have. Cody was very excited for me.
Kendrick’s reflection smiles, and my stomach jumps. Would they be proud of me for seeing Kendrick? Would they approve?
Or would they be angry?
I’ve never given a romantic life much thought, which means I’ve never given my sexuality much thought, so I don’t know how my parents and grandparents would receive the announcement that I’m queer. Since they’re all dead, I’m going to choose to believe that they’d still love me. They’d support me. They’d be proud of the person I am.
I’m not sure I’m proud of the person I am, but there’s something about this trip that has me a little closer to feeling that pride.
CHAPTER 26
KENDRICK
Seth
Are you running on time?
Ifrown as I finally have a minute to look at my phone. He’s already running out, isn’t he?
Me
Yes. Should be there around five. Maybe a little sooner. Why? What happened?
Seth
My roommate says a pipe burst in our apartment, so I need to leave. I’ll stay until one or so, just so Martha isn’t left alone long, but he says there were two inches of water throughout the apartment, and he’s been throwing out damaged shit all morning.
My shoulders sag a little. I was looking forward to seeing my son when I got home. Coming home to my child felt like such a treat for those few days he was here before I left.
Me
