It takes me a few seconds to realize that Trevor isn’t beside me. Since one of his long strides equals two of mine, that’s strange. Trevor usually looks like he’s moving in slow motion when he stays in step with me. Aaron used to just push ahead, leaving me trailing behind, but my roommate has never outpaced me.
I stop, glancing over my shoulder. An indiscernible emotion skirts over Trevor’s brow, but it disappears when he pushes his hair out of his eyes.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” He shakes his head, his mouth softening into an easy smile. “Let’s go climb a lighthouse.”
After an informative chat with the volunteer manning the small gift shop and ticket counter, we stride up the steep walkway to the base of the lighthouse. I pause occasionally to snap pictures, because from this angle you really get the scale of how grand this building is.
“It’s gorgeous,” I say, neck craned in awe.
Trevor makes a murmur of agreement before we enter the base through a sturdy metal door. I immediately grab the thin handrail and start to climb.
“These stairs are really narrow,” Trevor comments once we’ve reached the second story landing.
The stairs fit my feet just fine, but they’re not as big as Trevor’s.
“I guess people were smaller back then.” I gesture to the landing. “Do you want to look out now or on the way down?”
“On the way down is fine.”
His tone sounds a bit off, but I’m already winded. Walking on the level, paved streets of Trevor’s manicured neighborhood has not prepared me for this climb. My heart feels like it’s goingto burstAlien-style from my chest. That is, if my lungs don’t give out first.
I glance back at my roommate, noting a light sheen of perspiration on his brow as he watches his step. This challenging climb clearly isn’t having the same effect on him. Of course, Trevor gets paid an obscene amount of money to be in peak physical shape, so there’s that.
We climb in silence for a few more stories. When I stumble on a stair, Trevor’s hand braces my waist, steadying me.
“Do you need a break?” He has the decency to sound winded now.
I shake my head, pointing upward. We only have another story before the prize at the end of this torture—a wrap-around landing at the top. I can see the light spilling into the staircase from here.
Trevor’s nod looks…reserved? No, that can’t be it. He must be tired, like me, but better at hiding it. Trevor has sports photographers and videographers constantly filming him, so he probably has an exceptional poker face.
When the cool sea breeze caresses my cheeks at the very top, I almost crumble against the doorframe in relief. My arms stretch wide as I step out into the sunlight, tilting my chin and closing my eyes for a breath. Then I clutch the railing and gaze out at the expansive ocean. My exhausted heartbeat pounds in my ears, but a happy sigh leaves my mouth. The way the light reflects offthe waves, making hundreds of winking diamonds, is one of my favorite things.
I follow a pod of dolphins swimming up the coast as my breathing slowly returns to normal. A peal of delight leaves my mouth when one of them jumps into the air. I point, looking back to find Trevor stalled in the tiny door frame. Or rather, the doorway looks miniscule in comparison to his hulking frame.
“Get out here, silly.” A chuckle escapes my smiling lips. “You’re missing the dolphins.”
“I’ve seen dolphins.” His gaze darts up from his feet to my face before snapping back to the ground.
A rough swallow makes his Adam’s apple jump as he grips the door frame, his knuckles white.
“Trevor.” I step over slowly, like how I used to approach Banks in the early days before he learned to trust me. “Are you afraid of heights?”
My roommate shakes his head at his feet, clearly terrified.
“Why are you up here if you’re afraid of heights?”
His hazel eyes jump to mine, but this time they hold. “Because you were excited about this. I didn’t want to ruin it for you.” His gaze drops with an audible exhale. “Maybe I am anyway.”
My chest squeezes, but it has nothing to do with the strain from the climb.
“You’re not ruining anything.” I hesitate before settling my fingers over his on the door jamb. “I’m going to enjoy the viewfor a few more minutes. Do you want to wait in the staircase? You could sit on the top step.”
Trevor shakes his head, not looking at me. “I’ll stay here.”
“Okay.” I pat his hand before walking around the entire landing.
