Page 15 of Flip the Field
Brady
“How did the studying go?”I gripped the steering wheel with both hands and pulled away from the curb. The black SUV with the waffled, white leather interior was the most expensive thing I had ever driven.
She reached over and touched my arm. “Relax,” She squeezed my forearm, and I dropped one of my hands.
“It’s insured, right?” I tried to lighten the tension.
“Yeah, but still don’t hit anything, okay?” She smiled and my world came into focus. Everything good in my brain started and ended with her smile. We stopped at a red light and I lost track of time watching her.
The car behind me honked and I jumped. The light had turned green. I pushed the gas and glided through the streets.
Rocky Cove was a beach town five miles from campus. I’d lived on the Gulf Coast of Florida all my life and I’d visited the Atlantic Coast many times. I was curious if it was different up north.
“So, studying?” I asked again.
“Oh, good. Just getting organized, really.” She turned in the seat to face me. “What’s your major?”
“English.” I peeked at her, but then thought it better to keep my eyes on the road. The V-neck t-shirt showed off her tits and her skintight jeans were molded to her strong thighs. She had a black sweater draped over her lap. “You?”
“Business major,” She faced forward. “Why English?”
“I like to read.” I turned right at the next light. “You spend a lot of time in Rocky Cove?”
“Not really,” She shrugged. “It’s close, but it’s really just a laid-back fishing town.”
“I picture it like in The Perfect Storm,” I nudged her arm. “You seen it?”
“It is kind of like that,” She played with the seam of her jeans. “You seen Mystic River?” She pointed to a sign that indicated the highway. “Outside of Boston. You should check it out while you’re here.”
“That was a good movie, too,” I nodded.
“Yeah, it was,” She smiled.
“What’s that smile about?” Her smile made me smile.
“Nothing,” She covered her mouth.
“Tell me,” I grabbed her arm.
“I know the movie was sad and dark, but it was romantic, too.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“I loved the interaction between Sean Penn and Laura Linney’s character. Like he screwed up, but for the right reasons. And she was so down for him. It was romantic.”
“That’s what you’re looking for, someone to kill for you?” Her arm flexed under my hand. I didn’t want to let go. “You think you could forgive someone so easily?”
“Me?” She pointed to herself. “I don’t know. I would like to think so. People in love forgive a lot. Let things slide with each other they wouldn’t necessarily let slide for a friend or a casual acquaintance.”
“Interesting.”
“What’s so interesting?” She took her arm back. “You don’t believe in unconditional love?”
“I do,” I hesitated. “In theory.”
“In theory,” She laughed.
“Yeah, in theory,” I shrugged. “I’ve never been in love.”
