Page 55 of Broken Secrets
“Speaking of details,” I say when we separate, “have you submitted any college applications yet?”
He shakes his head. “I’ve started a few, but nothing’s been sent. I’m thinking about taking a gap year anyway, maybe working for a while to figure out what I actually want to study.”
“Really? What would you do during a gap year?”
“I don’t know yet. Maybe work at the marina, save some money, travel a little if I can afford it. Give myself time to figure out what I’m passionate about besides soccer and making out with my girlfriend under bleachers.”
“Those are important passions.”
“Very important. Speaking of which, we have that game coming up in two weeks. You ready to get destroyed by the superior goalkeeper skills?”
I laugh, pulling back to look at him in mock indignation. “Destroyed? I’m going to score so many goals on you that you’ll need therapy.”
“Big talk from someone who missed three shots in practice last week.”
“That was because I was distracted by family drama. Now that I’ve found my zen in the kelp forest, I’m unstoppable.”
“We’ll see about that. Though I have to admit, the thought of you trying to get past my defense is pretty hot.”
“Just wait until you see my corner kicks. Pure poetry in motion.”
“I’ll be sure to appreciate the poetry right before I catch the ball.”
“Such confidence. I love that about you.” I trace my finger along his collarbone, enjoying the way his breath catches slightly. “Among other things.”
“What other things?”
“The way you make everything feel lighter. The way you actually listen when I talk instead of just waiting for your turn to speak. The way you kiss me like you mean it.”
“I do mean it,” he says. “More than I probably should after only a few weeks of officially dating.”
“How much more?”
“Enough that I think about you when you’re not around. Enough that sharing today with you made it about ten times better than it would have been on my own.”
“Derek…”
“I know it’s probably too soon to say stuff like that. I just wanted you to know.”
“It’s not too soon,” I say, surprising myself with how certain I sound. “I think about you too. More than I expected to.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Like when I’m doing homework and something reminds me of a joke you made. Or when I’m lying in bed at night and I can still feel where you touched my hand or kissed my forehead. Or today, when I kept looking for you underwater to share every cool thing I saw.”
Derek’s smile could power the entire research station. “We’re pretty good at this, aren’t we?”
“At what?”
“Being together. It feels easy.”
“It does feel easy.” I stand and reach for his hand. “Want to walk down to the water? Away from all the other students?”
“Definitely.”
We walk hand in hand along the shoreline, our feet sinking slightly into the wet sand with each step. The sun hangs lower now, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink that would look overdone in a painting but seem perfectly natural reflected in the calm ocean surface.
Other students fade into the distance behind us as we find a more secluded stretch of beach. The waves here are gentle, barely waves at all, more like the ocean breathing, drawing water up the sand and releasing it in a steady, soothing rhythm.
