“Nah. Let’s just walk. It’s nice out.”
It was. Warmish, even in my little dress. And with Xander at my side… it was the perfect situation for a midnight stroll. We were heading toward the Cambie Bridge, and I glimpsed a fat full moon glowing between the tall buildings.
“I never knew you were into such things,” I teased him. “Romantic walks in the moonlight…”
“Yeah. Us and all the other drunks staggering around.”
He was right. The sidewalks in this neighborhood were flooded with bar-hoppers. But as we worked our way toward the bridge, it thinned out.
“Hey, Xan?” I ventured, once we’d finished our pretzels and it was easier to talk. “I don’t really know much about having an intimate relationship with a man… So I want you to keep teaching me everything you know.”
He laughed. “You’ve come to the wrong place if you want relationship lessons.”
“Then just keep teaching me everything you know about sex. And we’ll figure out the rest, together. It can’t be too hard. We have a lot to work with, between us.”
“We do?”
“Yes. Of course we do. I think I’ve got the loyalty thing down. And unconditional love… I know how to do that. I mean, I love Cary and my friends like that. I’m trustworthy and usually pretty patient—”
“And sweet,” he said. “And fucking persistent.”
“Okay. That too.” I squeezed his hand in mine. “And you’re devoted. I’ve never seen anyone work as hard at saving someone as you worked at trying to pick up my brother when he fell.”
“I could say the same about you.”
“You’re passionate, too. I’ve seen you on the drums. And I think you’re way more sensitive than you let on.”
“I’ve been known to cry when girls tell me they love me.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was adorable. Don’t be embarrassed. I cry at diaper commercials when I’m PMSing.”
He grinned. “Nowthat’sembarrassing.”
“Glad you think so.” I elbowed him lightly as we walked. “I know you know how to love. I’ve seen it.”
“I love you,” he said, seriously.
I smiled. I would never get tired of hearing him say that.
We walked in silence for a bit, to the bridge and then up onto the walkway along the side of it, heading across the water and out of downtown. In the middle of the bridge, Xander stopped us, and we leaned on the railing, together, enjoying the view.
The dark water below, reflecting back all the shimmering lights of the condo towers above.
And in the distance… the land curving away into the darkness. Out there was the expanse of forest at the edge of the city, the Endowment Lands around the university campus.
Not that I was ever going to that university, but… it reminded me where I was supposed to have been, right now.
“I don’t want to go to university,” I told him, out of nowhere. “Are you disappointed in me?”
“How could I be?” He studied me. “I never went to school after high school. But… I had other plans for myself.”
“So do I.”
“Tell me.”
“I’d like to take some writing classes. And maybe I can hire an editor to help me polish up my book? And then, who knows… maybe someone would want to publish it.”
“I’m pretty sure someone would.”
