“Thanks. Looks like they’re about to start.” I pointed to the stage and took a swig. The cool limey drink felt so refreshing.
Chris took my hand and led me through the forming crowd and closer to the stage.
“Couldn’t we hear just as well from back there?”
“I don’t like to stand behind people,” he stated, glancing back at me.
The band started loud and hard, then slowed to a softer, mellower melody. Chris was watching them without any sense of reaction or emotion. I wondered if he even liked them.
“You a big fan?”
He glanced at me and then looked back at the band, then around the crowd. “No,” he said flatly. Then he struggled and hesitated the rest of that thought.
Maybe he thought I might have enjoyed the music and atmosphere that the beaches of Madison had to offer. Maybe he wasn’t a big fan but would tolerate it for me. For a moment, I was flattered.
“My dad is part owner of the stage. Any events happening here need to be cleared with him. So he likes me to come to these things and check out the turnout, if things go well—and basically make sure no one’s smashing guitars on his newly renovated stage.”
I probably should have been impressed. Most other girls would have been. Instead, something about the fact that he had to be here regardless of whether I agreed to meet him or not, was disappointing.
“I see. So I’m basically here with you to babysit the band?” I asked abruptly.
He took my hands in his in a smooth, swift motion and looked into my eyes. “Let’s get away from all the noise.”
Disappointed that we wouldn’t be sticking around for the encore, I followed him toward the shore. As we got closer to the water, I glanced down at my feet, focusing on the sand between my toes rather than embracing the warm, misty breeze.
“Amy, is something wrong? You seem distant tonight.”
Something was wrong. I was not only offended that he didn’t ask me out on a date that was specifically planned for me, but angry that his interrupting my class turned out to be a matter of convenience rather than a desperate romantic gesture that couldn’t wait.
“I meant what I said earlier. I apologize if I came off judgmental the other day,” he continued when I didn’t respond. “You have a right to decide your own future without someone telling you you’re going about it all wrong.”
Wasn’t he basically saying just that? I shrugged and shook my head. I didn’t come on this summer excursion to over-analyze every word this guy, or any other, said. I needed to take a page out of Rachel’s book. Have fun now—think later. I sighed and forced a smile. “Thank you, and you don’t need to apologize.” Especially when he was going to contradict it in the same sentence. “I’m having a good time.” Although if I was honest, so far, the best part of the night was the band, but I’d decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“I’m glad. I really like you, Amy. I feel that we have a connection, and I don’t know—maybe there was a reason that you ended up here of all places.”
He believed in fate? That was a good sign.
He took a step closer to me, and I felt my head tilt back to face him. “How so?” I had to ask. I may have been out to have a good time, but I wasn’t going to be a fed an empty line.
His head cocked, and he glanced over my head for a second. Then he seemed to recover. “I don’t know, maybe it was your independent, go-getter, self-motivated attitude that attracted me to you. Or it’s something that neither you nor I understand about you yet. But whatever it is, I hope that we can figure it out after a few more dates.”
You had to hand it to the guy. He was quick on his feet. I didn’t question any of it and just gave him a small smile.
He put his hand on my waist. I expected butterflies when the sexiest guy on the beach was about to kiss me, but instead, his possessive hold on me just made me uncomfortable. I ignored it and looked up at him. He pulled me in and bent his head to kiss me. It was the first kiss I’d had since the guy I’d dated a little less than a year ago.
“You believe in things happening for a reason?” That I had to question. It just didn’t seem like something someone who planned every moment of his life would believe.
He stared into my eyes. “Not usually, no. Actually, not ever. I mostly believe in coincidences, in the philosophical sense.”
I nodded slowly then turned in the direction of the concert. “I think we should go listen to the rest of this great band.”
CHAPTER 14
Friday morning, I woke up to an eager knock on my door. I jerked up from my bed and turned to Rachel. She was out cold and didn’t hear a thing. I couldn’t imagine how anyone could sleep through that. I imagined a child screaming for help in the pool and Rachel daydreaming away on her lifeguard chair.
Glancing at the alarm clock on our shared night stand, I saw that it was 7:20 a.m. I got out of bed and slipped into my thongs. I pulled open the door to find Rick standing on the other side of it with a goofy grin on his face. I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t imagining things.
“Hi,” he greeted with a big grin.
