My ears perked up. “Did you say pinball?”
“I’ll say it again if it means you’ll say yes.” His grin was infecting me with butterflies in my belly.
“Okay.” I held back my smile.
“I’ll pick you up then. Where do you live?” I pulled a corner off a piece of loose-leaf paper and scrawled my address on it. He took it from my hand, and as our fingers touched, I swear I felt a spark. “Great. Nine a.m. Okay?”
Suddenly, as I watched him fold up the piece of paper and stuff it into his pocket, I wanted to take it all back. Something about Brandon was too real. Too genuine. Too intuitive. I wanted to back out. No, I had to back out. When I opened my mouth to try to object, he brushed past me and said, “See you then, Marissa.”
The sound of my name rang in my ears like a symphony, and all I could do was stand there and watch him walk away. With my address in his front pocket.
Chapter Twelve
It was eight forty-five in the morning, and I was just finishing getting ready for my date — was this actually a date? — with Brandon. My grandmother was out for her morning walk and didn’t know I was still home. I placed my hair into a loose French braid. My jean cut-off shorts and light pink T-shirt evoked the casual attire one would wear to the beach. All I needed was to add my flip-flops, which would show off my freshly painted toes. I mean, come on, who doesn’t like cute toes? Not like I was trying to have cute toes for Brandon or anything. It’s just nice to have cute toes.
As I grabbed my purse off my bed, I heard the doorbell ring. When it rang a second time, I felt my knees quake. Calm down. I rushed down the hall to the front door. When I opened it, I was struck by his smile. His hair was kind of messy, like he combed it in a rush, and he was wearing jeans with a tear in the right knee. His blue T-shirt looked custom fitted, and I liked how the fabric tugged on the muscles of his upper arms.
“Ready for some good, clean fun?” he asked.
I crossed toward him and shut the door behind me. “I’ve got my halo with me.” Inside I cringed at how ridiculous my comment sounded.
“I don’t know what that means, but cool.” He gave me a perplexed smile, and I walked slightly behind him to his car. This was the first time any boy had ever opened a car door for me. I felt a little guilty for enjoying it, like I should be a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need any man to open her car door for her. All my life I’d been so used to Marc, who bounded ahead of me any time we had to get into a car. This was nice. Brandon was nice. My stomach muscles tensed as I watched him walk over to the driver’s side.
We had driven the first few minutes of the ride in silence. Finally, Brandon broke the tension. “Coffee?” he asked.
“Yes, please.” I wondered what I was doing there with this guy who had some sort of telepathic link to me. It just seemed like he got me or something. All of my instincts to hide who I truly was from him were slowly beginning to fade. But I wasn’t ready yet. Sure, I’d share my favorite color with him and talk about my hobbies, but there was no way he was going to know my secret. A sensation of warmth washed over my shoulder. It reminded me of when my mom would squeeze my shoulder whenever I’d tense up. Maybe my mom’s ghost was signaling me to relax.
I looked out the window at the perfect morning. The sky was already a clear blue, and the sun was warming the earth below. It took a moment for me to realize we had parked. I’d been so lost in thought.
“I’m starving. I think I’ll grab a muffin too,” Brandon said while exiting the car.
My stomach growled. I craved a chocolate chip scone, but didn’t want to seem like a pig or anything, so I decided to get a croissant. A wave of fresh pastry scents hit my nose as Brandon opened the door to Have Another Cup Coffee Shop. Maybe I would get the scone after all.
We were in line waiting when I heard his voice. “Marissa?” I didn’t want to turn around. But he said it again. “Marissa?” Now I knew he was right behind me.
I turned slowly, wishing that somehow time would stop, so I could make a break for it. “Hey, Mr. Brockwell.” My cheeks felt like they were cracking as I smiled. He locked eyes with me, and I immediately moved my gaze to the floor. I was so embarrassed by my face. My face that constantly reminded him of my mother’s.
“I haven’t seen you in a while. Funny, running into you here,” he said. But it wasn’t funny. The last time I ran into him here, he practically had to run away from me. The pain of seeing me and the memories that I conjured up for him.
I watched in slow motion as he extended his hand to Brandon. “Hi there, I’m Hank Brockwell.” The two shook hands.
“Brandon.” I heard Brandon say softly over the ringing in my ears.
“No school today?” Mr. Brockwell asked.
I sheepishly looked toward the ground, hoping it would open up and suck me in whole.
Mr. Brockwell laughed. “Don’t worry, kids. I won’t tell anyone. So, Marissa, how’s the running going?”
The air
