Dylan gave me a serious look. “I want to talk to you about something.”
“Yeah?”
He didn’t answer right away because the waitress came over to give us water.
As soon as she left, he put down his menu. “You don’t have to work at Al’s if you don’t want to.”
I sipped my water, unsure where the conversation was headed.
“You’re doing it because you need extra money…but you don’t have to.”
“I don’t mind it. It’s an easy enough job, and I can usually get some studying done.”
“But—”
He was interrupted when the waitress returned. Dylan quickly rattled off an order. “We’ll have a volcano roll, spicy eel, rainbow roll, and a crunchy shrimp. Does that sound all right?”
“Oh. Sure.” At least I’d heard of crunchy rolls. I liked those.
He waited until the waitress left. “As I was saying, you don’t have to work there. I’m going to be paying for everything on our dates, and I’d love the excuse to spoil you.”
I felt blood flooding to my cheeks. “Spoil me?”
“Yeah. Like I said, I’m going to take care of you.”
“Dylan, I’m not poor. I’m just working to make some extra money. It’s not a big deal.”
“But I’d rather you had more free time. Three nights a week is a lot.”
“It’s not that much. Really, it’s fine.”
He reached across the table to take my hand. “At least think about it, okay?”
“Sure. I’ll think about it.”
“Good.”
I had no intention of quitting my job.
Chapter Fifteen
From: [email protected]
Subject: The meaning of life
Dear Amy,
College is nothing like I expected. I’m still not sure if that’s good or bad.
Your ‘Maybe I should be a Philosophy Major’ Cousin,
Juliet
“What do you want to do Saturday night?” Dylan ran a hand through my hair as we lay in his bed. For once, he hadn’t fallen asleep. It was already late September, and I couldn’t quite accept it. The semester was flying by.
“Saturday? I have a mixer that night.”
“Mixer?” He tensed. “With what house?”
“Kappa.”
His face crinkled up in distaste. “You can’t go to that.”
“Does that mean you’re skipping the mixer you guys have with the Sigmas on Friday?”
“No. I have to be there. I’m the fraternity president.”
I moved out of his arms. “It’s okay for you to go to a party with another sorority, but I can’t go to one with a different frat?”
He reached out to me. “It’s different. I can keep girls off me. You can’t keep guys away. Besides, I already told you why I have to go.”
“I’m a pledge. I have no choice.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment. “If I agree to skip mine, would you skip yours?”
“I thought you couldn’t miss it.”
“I can if I’m out of town.”
“Out of town?” I let him pull me back into his arms.
“Yeah. Let’s go out to the beach. We could use some time away.”
“I’ll see if I can get excused.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“How?”
He smiled. “It won’t be a problem.”
***
The relaxation I always felt on the drive to the beach set in as soon as we turned onto Main Road. Nothing drastically changed at that spot. We still passed occasional restaurants, stores, and plenty of cars, but it was always the point where I said to myself, “I’m on vacation.”
“Would you mind if I turned off the AC?” I was dying to roll down my window. We were still over twenty minutes from the beach, but I wanted the fresh air.
“Sure.” He reached over at the same time I did. I moved my hand, letting him hit the button. He took my hand in his before opening my window for me. I looked outside, loving how familiar everything was. I’d been going to the beach for longer than I could remember. No matter what else was happening in life, my family always went for at least two weeks every summer, and usually a few other times during the year.
“What are you thinking about?” Dylan rested our entwined hands on my leg.
“Just how much I love the beach.” We were getting closer. The dense canopy of leaves created by the live oaks managed to block out most of the sun, but it did nothing for the humidity. I didn’t mind.
“Me, too. My dad actually talked about selling our place a few years ago, but I talked some sense into him.”
“How’d you manage that?”
“I reminded him of how good of an investment it is.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
“I’m so ready for this weekend. I feel like I’ve hardly seen you the past few weeks.”
“I spent two nights with you this week.”
“Two out of five isn’t great.”
“I would have thought you’d want space.” I looked back out the window.
“No. I want you in my bed. I sleep better that way, and I swear you’re like a drug. I can’t get enough of that body of yours.”
My stomach tightened. I still loved hearing how much he enjoyed my body, but I just didn’t get it. He’d been with plenty of girls before. I couldn’t be that special. I enjoyed his body too, but the sex hadn’t gotten any better.
“This is such a good time of year to go to the beach. It’ll be practically empty.”
“I’ve never been here this time of year.”
“You’ll like it. It’s not as hot, but the water is still warm.”
“Do you want to head down to the beach today? Do you think we’ll have time?”
“Definitely. It’s not even three-thirty.”
Dylan seemed so relaxed, and I hoped getting away from school would bring back the Dylan I knew. The one who laughed all the time, the one who liked to sit and talk.
“Good. I’m ready for some sun.”
“Well, I’m ready to see you in a bikini again,” he said suggestively.
The rest of the trip moved quickly. Dylan turned on some music, and he didn’t seem to mind that I wasn’t being talkative. It was strange to drive into Dylan’s driveway instead of my grandparents’.