“When he came back to campus after last summer, he was a changed man. Determined, driven. He told me exactly what his revelation was about you and he apologized. Then he told me how he felt. That’s why I encouraged you to talk to him, but otherwise stayed out of it. He knew he fucked up. Even though he’s my best friend and I knew he was going crazy trying to talk to you, my loyalties were with you. He asked me numerous times to intervene, but I refused. This whole trip, with his family, was his idea. I tried to discourage it, not knowing your reaction, but Mom told me to leave it alone. It was time to see how things would go.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, wow. Mom is a romantic at heart and wants hearts and flowers everywhere. I’m pretty sure the world isn’t filled with unicorns and rainbows, but she still believes. The last few days, a piece of the old Devon returned, but it’s new and improved.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’ve grown, but yet, still young at heart and goofy.”
He stops talking when Bryce walks back in and they decide on a movie. The couch is a huge sectional so each guy takes an end and stretches out, while I lie in the middle. Several times, I’m startled and jump, kicking Bryce in the ribs. After the third time, he grabs my ankles and puts my feet in his lap. It doesn’t take long before I fall asleep.
“Babe, wake up? I have to move.”
“Hmmm.”
“Devon, seriously, your dad will be up soon. I need to go to my room.”
I snuggle further into the warm arms that wrap around me and sigh. Then I go stiff. What is that poking into my hip?
“Yeah, babe, that’s one of the reasons, I need to go to my own room. If your dad sees us and then sees my hard on, he’ll kill me.”
I move away slowly and look up to see Bryce’s face only inches from mine. There’s no time to react before he leans in and brushes his lips against mine, then jumps up and disappears. I roll back over and wonder if it was a dream.
Chapter 4
As I suspected, shopping with my mom was a set-up. As soon as we were far away enough from Sheila, she drilled me. I didn’t give her every detail of my plane conversation but I did tell her the most important parts. Then I told her about Quinn’s advice.
She told me basically the same thing Nate did and then surprised me by tearing up.
“What the hell, Mom?”
“Baby, I don’t know all the details, but I hope you can open your heart again. Maybe this time there will be a different ending.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I think Bryce is ready for you. It took him a while to know it, and it took him losing you to know how much you mean to him.”
“Okay, match.com. Let’s take things slow here. I’m just getting used to being his friend again.”
She nods and drops the subject. The three of us go into almost every little shop in the village. We’re sitting in a coffee shop chatting when my phone goes crazy. Text message and email alerts sound as it rings. Quinn’s face pops up on the screen.
“Hey!”
“Have you checked your email?” she screams.
“Not in a few days, why?”
“Oh my God! Do you remember the pieces we did for World Journalism?”
“Yes.”
“Well, the professor sent us both a message about them. He wants to submit the stories and the photos to a local show. The judges will pick fifteen winners and send them on to a museum, for an exhibit, in Washington, D.C. He thinks we both have a chance at placing!!!”
“Are you kidding???”
“No, open your email, read it, and call me back.” She hangs up and I scroll through my messages.
My mom and Sheila bounce excitedly in their chairs when I read the email. Apparently the deadline is tonight so I respond to my professor immediately with permission to enter my work and call Quinn back. She does the same.