Page 67 of Level Up

“I can’t, I need to meet Maddy. Our Beacon Bay protest is almost here. Still have so much to do for it.”

My mom gave her canvas a once-over and set her brush down on the paint palette next to her. She turned her chair around so she could face me. “How’s that going?”

“Great, actually. We figured out what we want to do—well Ryan actually figured out what to do. I think it’s going to get the attention we need to add pressure. I’ve got hope.”

My mom’s hazel eyes crinkled as she twirled a turquoise beads on her bracelet. “You really like him, don’t you?”

“Well yeah, he’s my boyfriend. I hope I like him.” I smiled, knowing my mom meant more than she was saying. “He’s a really great guy. Nothing like his father. And… yeah, he makes me really happy.”

“I can see a change in you. You seem so much more, no sé, carefree. Especially when he’s around. The other night at dinner, it was obvious how good you are for each other. I saw those puppy eyes you gave him. I love seeing my son like this.”

“And your son loves feeling like this.” I looked back at the garden again. “I think Dad would have loved him.”

“I know he would have. He always said he wanted you to end up happy, successful, and with someone who lifts you up.”

The cloudless blue sky took on a new life every time I spoke about my dad. “When did you know he was going to be the one?” I asked. I’d known how they met, when they got married, and watched the rest of their love story unravel with my own eyes.

But I never asked how she knew.

“Well, not to burst your romantic bubble, but I don’t think there isn’t really one exact moment someone knows. Unless I watched your dad fly into a burning building and come out rescuing a basket of crying kittens, then yes, I would have known then. But I don’t think there’s ever a true moment,” she said. She swirled her matcha tea, took a sip, and continued. “Instead I think there’s a multitude of moments, that only continued after me and your dad married. Reaffirmations to my initial guess, because that’s really all we can do. Guess at our futures.

He gave me all the reasons —tiny and huge— so that I could pull them together, paint them onto a canvas that would never really be complete. Not until I can no longer paint.”

She took another sip of her tea, letting me sit in her words. I thought about all the moments Ryan proved he was the one for me. My painting of us already begun forming.

My mom cleared her throat. “Does that make any sense? I did eat an edible before you got here.”

I cracked up, happy I can share this moment with her. “Yes, that made complete sense.”

“Okay, good.” She smiled, opened her arms.

I got up from my seat and hugged her tightly.

“I love you, Jay.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ryan

I stood at the edge of the lake. A golden glow shone down on the peaceful water. The wind whipped my hair, carrying the earthy aroma of the lake. This was the moment I had been training for, the culmination of endless early mornings and ass-busting workouts.

The race was about to begin, and I was ready—physically and mentally.

“We got this,” Travis said, slapping my shoulder as he climbed into coxswain position on the racing shell.

The other crews looked impressive—muscle, power, and a hunger to win. This was a group made up of the best of the best. They’d all come out to California, where the final race was being held. It was about an hour-and-a-half drive away from campus: Star Lake.

The crowd was huge, all of them in different colors representing the schools they rooted for. They gathered on the shore that stretched around the lake.

I looked around, not expecting to see any familiar faces, but hoping to see one in particular.

It was a selfish kind of hope. I knew he wouldn’t feel comfortable being here, and I’d never force that kind of experience on him. He had done more than enough this morning, waking up extra early and sneaking out of the dorm to bring back breakfast for us. It was a beautiful gesture, and it set me up for the rest of the day.

I was excited to get back to the dorm, hopefully with trophy in hand. I planned on celebrating all night with Jay.

The racing shell was already almost full. I hopped on and took my seat, rolling my neck and letting go of some of the tension.

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