Page 44 of Level Up

“For all the wrong reasons, I’m sure.”

I took a swig of the white wine and looked up at the clear blue sky. We had gotten together to discuss the protest for the Beacon Bay drilling project. There was still time to shut it down, but every day that passed meant our job became infinitely harder.

The idea of a unified flash mob doing a corny dance on the beach didn’t feel inspiring, but…

“I do want to maybe have a performance element, though. Maybe that can help our cause go viral,” I said. “And you know how much I like those views.”

Maddy chuckled and played with the silver necklace sitting on her purple FU T-shirt. “Duh,” she said. “What were you thinking?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’ve been a little distracted lately.”

“Mhmm. You mean dickstracted, right?”

I shot her a look. “Maybe. Whatever. Yes. But back to Beacon Bay. I think I want to have some kind of short play. With dancing involved.”

Maddy looked like she was about to keep pursuing her “dickstracted” angle but thankfully dropped it. “That sounds like a good idea. But in terms of, like, virality, I’m not sure how many scroll-addicted brains are going to stop and watch something like that.”

“True…”

“Oh,” she said, clapping her hands. “But if we do have some kind of show, I know the perfect person who could help with our fits. Blaise. He graduated from FU already, but he’s trying to break into costume design for TV and film. Maybe this could be his big break?”

“Sure,” I said. “The more, the merrier.”

“Perfect, I’ll text Blaise now, then.” She took her phone out from her white shorts and started tapping away on the screen. Her corgi charm dangled from the bubblegum pink case. “Maybe we can be sailors? But modern. And half-naked, of course. Maybe it can be a cabaret show?”

I cocked my head and laughed. “Half-naked?”

“Sex sells, babe. Besides, I’ve seen that dancer body of yours. Why hide any of it?” She wiggled her eyebrows mischievously. “Especially when you’re not hiding it for a certain someone.”

“Who says I’m not blindfolding Ryan whenever we hook up?”

Maddy cracked up at that. “Ohhh, I didn’t know you were so kinky.”

My cheeks instantly flushed pink.

“Wait, scratch that,” she said, gaze narrowing to slits. “I forgot about your ‘Daddy’ experience.” She leaned forward and shook my knee. “You kinky little freak. I love it.”

I finished my glass of wine. Birds chirped and sang from inside the bamboo forest that surrounded us. I thought back to yesterday’s date, to becoming official with Ryan. It was—not to be overdramatic—but it was literally everything. I had woken up feeling like I was on top of the world. No, not even—I was on top of the moon. Floating along in low gravity. Bouncing with every step.

“Why are you smiling so wide?” Maddy asked skeptically.

The soft buzz of the wine made keeping any secrets difficult, especially when it was my best friend sitting across from me. “Ryan and I are officially boyfriends,” I said, all in one breath.

Maddy’s jaw dropped before she placed her hand under her chin and lifted it back up. “I don’t even know why I’m acting all surprised. I saw this coming from a mile away. Get it… coming?”

“You’re so ridiculous.”

She started to laugh, the sound mixing with the chorus from the birds. “Wait, this is actually huge, though. I’m so happy for you! How did it happen? Tell me everything.”

And so I did. I started from the beginning of the date to the end. She held her fisted hands to her chest, her long lashes blinking up a storm. “And that’s it,” I said, leaning back, my hands in the grass. “Cute, right?”

“Are you kidding? That was like, Notebook levels of romantic. God, I love you two already.”

“There’s still some speed bumps we have to get over,” I said.

“About his family?” She waved a hand in the air. “People will get over it.”

“You don’t know that. Also, for my own moral compass, I don’t know if it’s healthy, ya know? I mean, I want to be his boyfriend, there’s no doubt about that. I just wish I didn’t have to be so torn about the things his family does.”

---