I know before I even take it out that it’s Easton.
“What are you doing?” he asks when I answer. He sounds so excited that my heart skips a beat.
“I’m just about to go over the choreography again. Why? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine,” he says quickly. “I’m in the parking lot. I want to show you something. If you want to see, that is.”
“No.” I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see me. “Of course I don’t.”
“You don’t even know what it is.”
“Are you trying to talk me out of it?” I ask, my steps quickening of their own accord. I’ve already turned and am walking in the opposite direction from the practice building, away from the dorms. “It’s a little late for that. I’ll be right there.” I walk throughthe gate and spot Easton’s van. The headlights cast bright beams of light onto the asphalt.
“I don’t want to pressure you.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“That’s so dumb I won’t dignify it with an answer.” I reach the van and open the passenger door.
Easton hangs up and grins at me. He looks so good that I can’t breathe for a moment. Something is different today and I can’t quite put a finger on it, but he’s positively glowing, and that makes me happy.
“You answered at least,” he says as I climb into the car.
This time I don’t get a chance to reply, but that’s his fault because he pulls me in for a kiss. If I weren’t already struggling to breathe, I would be now.
“Should I ignore you next time?” I ask as we pull away from each other, breathless.
“Please don’t. I like your voice.” His eyes light up, and I really am hopelessly in love.
“Thanks.” I can’t fight the smile spreading across my face. “What do you want to show me?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute.” The engine roars to life, and Easton turns the van out of the parking lot.
“You’re mean.” I say with a pout. “First you lure me into your van, and now you kidnap me?”
“Do you want to get out?” He glances at me, and I shake my head.
“Of course not. I’m far too curious.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Will you at least tell me where we’re going?”
Now he’s the one shaking his head. “It’s a surprise.”
***
We drive to the beach. Easton tries to distract me the whole way there, asking me how my day was. He asks whether I’ve started studying for exams yet, and is clearly going to great lengths to keep me from figuring out what he’s up to. But I notice, because the route is somehow familiar, even though this is only the second time we’ve driven to the beach together. And because I know Easton.
He parks the car in the same spot as last time. It’s dark, just like it was before. Except everything is different. The sky is clear, clear enough to see the stars. It definitely won’t start snowing tonight. It still smells a bit like spring, especially here, because the sea always smells like summer. That doesn’t actually make sense, but it does to me.
Easton takes my hand as we get out and walk down to the water. The sand gives way under our feet, and it’s quiet apart from the sound of the waves crashing.
“Phil sent us the songs today,” Easton says, breaking the silence between us.
I stop abruptly. “What?” I stare at him in disbelief. “Wow, already?”
“Yes.”
“You’re only telling me this now?”
