Page 85 of Broken Secrets
“We need to celebrate,” Robert announces. “This calls for a proper celebration dinner. Somewhere nice.”
“Can Maya and Derek come?” I ask immediately. “I want to share this with them.”
“Of course they can come,” Mom says. “Call them right now. We’ll make reservations somewhere special.”
I pull out my phone with shaking hands, my first instinct being to call Derek. But then I remember he applied for early admission too, and if his letter came today…
“Actually,” I say, “let me text them to meet us at a restaurant. I want to tell them in person.”
“Good idea,” Robert says. “Where should we go?”
“That new place downtown with the ocean view? Lighthouse Grill?”
“Perfect. I’ll call for reservations.”
As Robert makes the phone call and Mom starts putting away dinner ingredients, I text Maya and Derek:
Me
Emergency celebration dinner at Lighthouse Grill at 7 PM. Can you both make it? Something amazing happened.
Maya
OMG YES! What happened?? Are you pregnant??
Me
NOT PREGNANT. Just meet us there. You’ll see. Plus, we haven’t even had sex yet dumbass.
Derek
I’ll be there. Should I bring anything?
Me
Just yourself.
The drive to Lighthouse Grill feels like it takes forever, even though it’s only fifteen minutes from our house. I keep rereading my acceptance letter, making sure I didn’t misunderstand something crucial. But there it is in black and white: admitted to UC Santa Barbara with an academic scholarship that covers most of my tuition.
Lighthouse Grill sits on a bluff overlooking the harbor, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide panoramic views of the Pacific. It’s the kind of place we usually save for special occasions—birthdays, anniversaries, major milestones. Which this definitely qualifies as.
Maya arrives first, practically bouncing as she meets us in the parking lot. “Okay, I’ve been speculating for twenty minutes and I need to know what’s going on. Did you get into college? Did Derek propose? Did Emma get approved to move here?”
“You’ll find out in two minutes,” I tell her, unable to keep the grin off my face.
Derek pulls into the parking lot just as we’re walking toward the restaurant entrance. He gets out of his car with an expression I can’t quite read, excited but also nervous, like he’s carrying his own secret.
“Table for five,” Robert tells the hostess, and we’re seated at a window table with a perfect view of the sunset painting the ocean in shades of orange and gold.
“Okay,” Maya says the moment we’re settled. “I’ve been patient long enough. What are we celebrating?”
I pull the acceptance letter from my purse, unfolding it carefully on the table. “I got into UC Santa Barbara.”
Maya’s shriek is loud enough that the couple at the next table looks over in alarm. She launches herself around the table to hug me, nearly knocking over a water glass in the process.
“I’m so proud of you!” she says, squeezing me tight. “This is amazing! When did you find out?”
“About an hour ago. I got home from practice and the letter was in the mailbox.”
