Page 6 of Wildest Dream

"Is it your friend from yesterday?"

"She's is in the truck. My other friend is the one who graduated."

"With what degree?"

"Dance."

"Dance?"

"Yes. That's how I know her. We were dancers when we were kids."

"What kind of dance?"

"Hip hop."

"You're a hip-hop dancer?" he asked, standing back and looking me over with newfound curiosity.

"I used to be more than I am now. I still do it some, but not like Sabrina. What about you?"

"Me?"

"Your brother. What did he study?"

"Oh, Ryan? Business. He just came here to play soccer, really. Our dad teaches us more about business than he learned here."

"Your brother was on the soccer team?"

"Yes, he was. Men's soccer," he added dazedly. He was staring into my eyes and smiling, and it was so different from the encounter I had with him yesterday that I was stunned.

I tore my gaze from Isaac's and glanced at the parking lot, but I didn't see Sabrina's dad.

"So, what do you do if not dancing?" he asked.

"I still dance, I'm just more behind the scenes now."

"That's good," Isaac said.

His eyes met mine, and the simple act of eye contact felt way too… intimate, too serious. I wasn't sure what I was feeling. I smiled and looked away.

"It's amazing that we ran into each other," Isaac said. "Have we ever met before?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't… I don't think so."

"Crazy that we would go all this time and then see each other two days in a row," he said. "I'm so glad, though. I felt awful, and I’m happy I got to explain."

"I knew you weren't a big creep like my friend thought you were. She used another word to describe you, too. I can't remember, but it sounded bad."

"Thank you for trusting that I wasn't a bad guy," he said, smiling at me. "I just couldn't believe that shirt after I had been picturing horses all morning."

"That's a hilarious coincidence—w-wait, there's my friend's dad. I see him."

"Oh, okay."

"Yeah, I've got to…" I glanced at Sabrina who was preoccupied with her conversation. "I have to go get my friend," I said, seeing that she didn't happen to be conveniently looking at me like I hoped.

"Yeah, I should get back, too. I'm happy I saw you, Ari," he said.

I smiled and nodded, waving and taking off in the direction of Sabrina. "Me too," I said. "Mystery solved."

---