Page 23 of Take a Chance on Me

“I’m sorry that happened to you. That must have shaken your trust in people.”

People, relationships, friendships, the world, really. Though there had been other instances growing up, that was definitely the defining moment that made me lose faith in my ability to make good decisions. I shake my head. “I guess you could say that, but I’m doing okay now.”

“Are you? Is that why you told her we were together?” He takes another bite, and I find myself watching his lips. Why am I doing that? I don’t like him. Not like that, anyway, but at the museum…

“Okay, maybe I’m not totally better, but I’m working on it. We should talk about you though. What was with that persona that came over you? You were like a different person back there.”

His eyes drop from mine. “Ah, yes, that.”

Yes, that? That’s all he’s going to say about it? I don’t think so, buddy. “Let me guess, another guilty pleasure?”

“Something like that,” he mumbles into his ice cream, and I am even more intrigued. “We should probably get another stop in today. Do you feel up to the lighthouse?”

“Actually, I really want to go kayaking.” It is clear he is not going to divulge any more about this other persona right now, but that’s okay because I can wait. I’ll just keep chipping away the layers until he cracks and reveals all. That is one of my strengths or maybe annoyances, considering who you ask.

Derek shakes his head. “I don’t think I’m up for kayaking.”

“Well, then I guess it’s time for a third opinion.” He groans as I pull the eight ball from my bag, but I just smile at him. “Should we go to the lighthouse?” I flip the ball over and ‘Cannot predict now’ floats to the top. “Guess that’s a no. Should we go kayaking instead?” This time ‘Without a Doubt’ pops to the top and I grin as I hold the ball so Derek can see it.

“I’m seriously considering getting you a new one,” he says, shaking his head in disbelief. “That one is definitely rigged.”

“Rigged or not, I win.” He sighs, but I see a hint of a smile on his face, and I wonder if we both are winning in some small way.

CHAPTER10

Derek

She’s lookingat me differently. I can feel it, but I’m not sure what to do about it. I don’t know what came over me at the museum. Well, I do, but I thought that part of me was gone forever. I shoved it down and piled so much order and routine on top of it that I didn’t think it would ever surface again, but then she looked at me, and I could tell she needed me and bam! He popped out like he’d never been gone. The other Derek. Daring Derek as I like to call him.

I’m fairly certain Daring Derek has always been a part of me. He was the one who pretended to be Solo or Skywalker when I was young until he was suppressed and forced to retreat at my parents’ insistence. Unfortunately, he made a comeback in high school when the theater teacher asked me to help run the lights for the school play. At first, running the lights was fulfilling enough, but then I wanted to be on the stage. I wanted to pretend to be someone else, someone whose parents paid attention to them, someone who wasn’t picked on for his clothing choices, someone who people saw as more than a joke or the way to an easy ‘A.’ I never thought letting him out would have such devastating consequences, and so he got shut back inside. I padlocked the door and refused to think about him again. Until now.

I want to tell her about that guy, which is weird because I’ve never wanted to tell anyone about that guy, but she’s different. There’s something about her that makes me want to open up to her. And then the fear takes over. I’m afraid she’ll stop looking at me like she has been since the museum. Something changed there, and I don’t want to break it. It feels like a tenuous thread between us but one that could grow stronger if nurtured. Or snap like a twig if pulled.

“Here we are,” I say as if she can’t see that from the boat launch in front of us. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Though she makes me feel a little more adventurous, this is water, and I’m not good with water.

“The sun is shining and it’s warmish outside which is nearly unheard of in February. Yes, I’m sure I want to go kayaking. Now come on.”

It may be warm outside, but there’s no way the water will be warm, and I have no desire to end up a frigid popsicle today, but before I can say any of that, she opens the car door and begins walking toward the rental shop. With a sigh, I jog to catch up and arrive just in time to hear the guy behind the counter tell her he’s out of kayaks.

“You’re a rental shop. How can you be out of kayaks?”

He shrugs. “Look around, lady. It’s nice outside, so a ton of people had the same idea you did. Look, a few should be coming in within half an hour if you want to wait.”

She turns to me, her lips twisted into a comical pout. “What do you think? Do you want to wait?”

I check my watch. It is still early afternoon which means we have plenty of time to wait, and there’s nothing else pressing on the schedule. “I don’t mind. Maybe we can scout out a good place to take a picture until then.”

Katie’s eyes light up. “Ooh, that gives me a great idea. Can we borrow an oar?”

Confusion covers the counter guy’s face but then he shrugs and hands one over. “Make sure it comes back.”

“Of course it will come back. What could I possibly do with one oar?” She rolls her eyes at the guy, but that is the question on my mind as well. What is she going to do with one oar? “Come on,” she says to me and hurries toward the shoreline. When we reach the edge, she takes off her socks and shoes and begins rolling up her pant legs.

“What are you doing? I don’t believe they allow wading around here.”

“Don’t worry. It will only be for a minute. Just long enough to get a picture.” With her task done, she grabs the oar and steps into the water. Her eyes widen as an enormous shiver runs down her body. “Okay, this is colder than I thought. Hurry and take the picture.”

I grab my phone and survey the area to determine the best angle. When I see the lighthouse in the distance off to the right, I urge her to move that way so I can get it in the shot. “Perfect, right there.”

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