I’m shocked—he remembered? But then… that’s Erik. He can turn on the charm, draw others in. He listens. Shows an interest with ease. People love the way he notices, the way he remembers.
Elise nods. “Yes, both of my parents are.”
“Well, that gets you a free drink from me.” Erik signals the bartender, gesturing for two drinks on him.
We spend the next hour eating, discussing—and arguing—about all sorts of things. Elise starts out shy and then morphs, right in front of us, into the confident, awesomely-weird person I’m beginning to understand she actually is. She fires off facts about the cattle industry’s impact on the environment, cueing Jaxon to argue that our biggest drain on the environment is the mining industry, because he doesn’t seem keen on giving up his steak.
Listening to Elise rant, fast paced and passionate, is like watching daytime television. It’s dramatic and over the top, with weird deviations, and odd philosophical moments. I enjoy watching the surprise on the boys' faces.
Erik laughs and asks Elise questions. He is really trying for me, knowing I wanted to be social. Needed friends. I’ll have to thank him for that. He’s really listened to what I wanted, what’s important this year to me, and he’s showing me that today. He remembers her answers and refers back to them as they speak. He’ll know her better than me soon; I don’t have a great memory, though I was thinking about dimples and green eyes for a flash while she discussed her majors. Erik came through. I watch him and feel the familiar warmth of it. This is my family. This is what we look like from the outside. Easy and close.
“This reallyisa great spot,” Erik says again, looking around with that same satisfied expression. “Honestly. Elise, you two should study here. It’s perfect. Make it your spot.”
“The Grill’s good, too,” Jaxon adds, then stands up. “Gotta get me another brewskie.”
I lift my hand to my lips. I’m smiling. This is fun, and I don’t feel the least bit like hiding in the library. This is me becoming. Having no room to hide in, forces me to interact and accept company. This is good. And at least for a little while, I’m not thinking about Konnor.
That’s a lie.
I’m thinking about Konnor.
His dimples. Two. I could draw them.
The fantasy book.
The girl he lost.
Pembie’s breasts…
When Elise excuses herself to use the bathroom, Erik shifts in the booth and leans towards me. His voice drops. Just enough. Just for me.
His brown eyes meet mine, that smooth smile settling into place. “She seems nice.”
“She is.” I beam at him. “Thank you,”I say, my voice warm and real. “You were really nice to her.”
“She’s a sweet kid. Just…” He shrugs. “Never mind.”
“What?”
“Just be careful.”
I frown at him. “What? I thought you said she’s sweet?”
“Oh, she is.” He holds his hands up, pacifyingly, the picture of a man simply sharing a concern. “I’m just saying be careful. She’s going to need a lot from you, and you’ve got a lot to focus on this year. First year is a big shock.” His eyes dart between Jaxon at the bar and the restrooms, returning to me with something else inside them. He glances at my lips. “Why haven’t you returned my calls, by the way?”
I merely open my mouth, too shocked to speak. That was quitethe pivot. Smooth, really. I almost don’t feel it happen. “I was—” I start.
“It’s fine.” He smiles and tilts his head, gazing at me with those soft, brown eyes that have held me for most of my life in a state of comfort and security and—a feeling that keeps circling but never shows itself completely.
He reaches over and squeezes my hand once, his thumb brushing my knuckles and lingering.
I don’t flinch.
“I just worry,” he adds.
Jax approaches with a new beer spilling over the rim. He carries it over carefully, already drinking the overflow. Erik removes his hand from mine. Elise comes back from the bathroom and slides in beside me, her knee bumping mine, and she doesn’t notice but I do. Elise’s words tumble back, ‘do you want me to cut him,’ and I assign that comment to Erik.
The afternoon wears on. My 3 p.m. class looms, but I'm finally getting my mind off Konnor.
