content, almost sleepy look as he plucks at his bass.
Justin’s eyes open and take hold of me again as he sings. Whenever he sings, it’s like he’s singing to me. Well he actually is this time, but he makes the song seem like it was written for us. His piercing gaze ensnares me, pulls me into the song until we’re connected and riding the same wavelength of emotion. For this brief moment, I’m reminded of what he said in the shop—that we understand each other. Both of us recognize the longing, physically and emotionally, floating between us.
The song ends and his gaze devours me.
I’m instantly on my feet, ready to leave. And Gabe’s and Romeo’s irritation isn’t the only thing pushing me toward the stairs. The sense that my soul has been opened up, and read, adds to my desperation to flee.
Taking the first step, I murmur, “Thanks, bye.”
Justin follows me down the narrow staircase. As we step out into the cool night, I can finally breathe.
He pulls me into an embrace. “Thanks for coming,” he says into my hair. “You made my night, and don’t worry about them. They take this whole band thing a bit too seriously.”
He’s warm and a rush of lust shoots through me, but I brush the ring in his eyebrow with my fingertips and say, “You’re welcome, and I must say you sing beautifully, but I really have to get going.”
“All right.” He gives me a soft, lingering kiss, sighs, and steps back. “See you Sunday.”
With a nod, I move around to the driver’s side of my car. I ask, “By the way, what was that song?”
He smiles flirtatiously, showing his dimples. “‘Echo’ by Incubus.”
“Huh, well it was lovely.”
Still smiling, he watches me as I get in the car and start the engine. Since he’s standing on the curb, I offer a quick wave and drive away, but after the first turn, I pull to the side of the road and yank my phone out. It takes me only a few seconds to find the lyrics to “Echo.”
After reading the words several times and recalling his singing “Iris” to me weeks ago, I lean back into my seat with a hand to my chest. Both songs hint that Justin wants me to see beyond his playboy image. Instinctively, I understand he’s trapped in the persona. But I’ve seen the real him. I’m attracted to playboy Justin, but the real Justin is the one who keeps me coming back.
I bang my head back against the seat in frustration. This isn’t supposed to get serious. Justin and I should just be having
Though I’m following the instructions Allie texted me, all the state park trails appear the same. Trees, plants, wood chips. I open her text and read it again.
It’s past two and I’m standing alone, surrounded by trees. Wasting time is a little ridiculous considering I have a paper to write and three exams to study for just enough to attain the parent-aggravating average C. I slap at my arm—bugs. All to meet a five-year-old, and to see Allie. At least the sight of her will be worth the unwanted nature hike.
I’m about to text her when the sound of giggling comes at me from the left. Hopeful, I jog toward the sound as it grows louder. The first person to come around the corner is a small boy with curly hair and thick glasses. Seeing me, he stops walking
She plasters a look of surprise on her face as I stop my jog a few feet away from them.
“Justin! What are you doing out here?”
I bend and pretend to catch my breath. “Sunday afternoon jog. Nothing better than running on nature trails.” Yeah, right. I like to run on a treadmill with a TV in front of me. I draw in a deep breath like I’ve been running for miles. I’m dressed for deception in Adidas running shoes, a hoodie, and running pants. “You?”
Holly shoots me a mocking look.
“Out hiking,” Allie says, putting her hands on the small shoulders in front of her. “Ben loves to hike and study nature.”
I give Ben a grin. “Hiking’s cool.”
He stares at me, and I slowly realize this kid has got to like me because if anything would be a deal breaker for Allie it would be her son. Yet even though I know next to nothing about kids, being fake isn’t going to work. Kids can smell the “nice grown-up” scam a mile away. At least I used to be able to, if memory serves me right.
Holly crosses her arms and grins wickedly. “It’s been a while since we hung out, J-dog.” My teeth grind at the nickname. “Hanging out with you is the best. Remember that time in band camp?” she asks with a giggle.
Crossing my arms, I say, “How could I forget band camp and your…instrument?”
Holly lets out a loud laugh. Allie nudges her with an elbow, telling her without words that she’s overdoing it, but Holly lifts the cooler in her hand and her eyes sparkle mischievously at me. “You should join us on our hike. We’re, like, picnicking and everything.”
I clear my throat. “Picnic? Sounds great.” I look at Ben. “Do you mind if I join you?”
He shrugs and stares at a folded paper in his hand.
Allie’s forced smile is wide. “Of course he doesn’t mind. And you can help us find all the plants in our scavenger hunt.” She leans over Ben. “Show him the next couple we’re searching for.”
Still silent, Ben opens the brochure in his hand and points to several pictures of weedy green things.
“Neat, huh?” Allie says, gesturing to the brochure. “They give them out at the ranger station.”
I try to appear impressed. “Very cool. How many of them have you found so far?”
“Twelve,” Ben says, at last speaking. “We have eight more.”
“Okay,” I say, glancing at the brochure. “I’ll make sure to look out for the one with the little yellow flowers.”
Ben’s expression stays flat, but he nods in agreement.
Mother and son walk ahead of Holly and me. She keeps bumping me in the leg with the cooler. Then she points at Allie’s butt. “Quit looking at that and spy some flora and fauna.”
My response comes out with a smirk. “Can’t help it.”
Shaking her head, Holly smirks back.
Of course, I don’t find shit. Neither does Holly. Allie spots two of the plants and Ben the rest. Each time they find one, Allie pronounces the Latin term and Ben repeats it, then she reads the properties of the plant, which Ben also repeats. In the span of forty-five minutes as we walk through the swampy part of the trails, I’m thinking the boy is a supergenius and unlike any other five-year-old walking the planet.
The trail ends at a wide-open beach on Lake Huron. Growing up on the other side of the state on Lake Michigan, where the water is rougher, I can’t help but notice how the vast expanse of blue water appears calm and serene under the warm April sun.
Ben runs to the edge of the water and is about to dip a tennis shoe into the slight wave rolling onto the beach.
“Don’t even think about it!” Allie shouts. She glances at me as Ben backs away from the water. “I don’t like yelling, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.”
“Soakers do suck,” I say in agreement.
As she unzips her backpack, it finally hits me: The woman I’m dating is a mother. As in, she had a baby. As in, she’s raising a child. Of course, I knew this, but seeing them together makes it somehow more real, and gives me a glimpse into the reality of her responsibility, which I’m suddenly understanding is huge. I’ve been in my own little Justin world for so long that the whole thing kind of blows my mind. I’m aware I suck at understanding other people. Never used to care though.
