“Pepperoni’s my favorite,” I admit. “We’re eating in the car? Are you afraid to be seen with me in public?”
“I thought maybe we’d go hang out by the bluffs. Are you okay with that?”
I nod, unable to remember the last time I did anything outside other than run with Kelly early mornings. I’ve been so caught up in studying and work that I haven’t had much of a life. The thought of going somewhere outdoors just to hang is kind of nice.
The sun’s still a few hours from setting, and everything’s finally green after the unusually long, harsh winter.
He turns the car off. “Sit tight, I’ll be right back.” When he climbs out of the car onto the sidewalk, I can’t help but check out his backside. Some guys have virtually no hind end, but Adam’s is perfectly firm, matching the rest of his nicely built frame.
My phone buzzes in my purse, as if busting me for being so shallow. Flustered, I pull it out to see a text from Kelly.
How’s the non-date?
So far so good. And btw I broke it off with Levi.
Hardly a second passes after I hit send that Kelly sends another text.
WTF????? CALL ME ASAP!
Adam bursts through the restaurant's door, a square box in hand. I quickly text,
GOTTA RUN! before jamming my phone back in my purse. A second later I hear the buzz of another text, but ignore it, instead reaching across the driver’s seat to open Adam’s door. The heavenly aroma of marinara sauce and cheese follow him inside.
As he pulls back onto Main Street, I glance at the radio. “Mind if I turn on some music?”
His dimples materialize. “Go for it.”
I fumble with the dial until finding my favorite rock station. I turn it up a little more when I realize it’s Queens of the Stone Age, one of the many awesome bands I had a chance to see live at Lollapalooza.
Adam glances between me and the road. “What is this? Your kind of music?”
Shrugging, I say, “Depends on what kind of mood I’m in.”
“Are you in the mood to smash something?” He watches me carefully with a growing smirk as Josh Homme shouts through the speakers.
“Just give it a chance,” I plead, giggling. “Let yourself listen without judgment. These guys are pretty stellar. The lead singer was in a band with Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters...you know, the drummer from Nirvana. You should see Josh play the guitar and piano. The guy was in a band when he was twelve. He’s collaborated with dozens of bands. He’s even produced some records. He’s crazy talented.”
Adam’s eyes twinkle as he studies me, their intensity making my hormones go wild. I don’t think he has a clue what I’m talking about, but he seems fairly amused. “You’re really into music, huh?”
“Yeah, I am,” I say proudly, lifting my chin. “And I’m totally going to make you a playlist. One to go along with your other list. It’s time to culture you on good music. Now shush it, and listen carefully to these guys. Your lesson starts now.”
I crank the volume so it’s just one decimal below shattering our ear drums. Adam’s eyes grow wide, but his lips curl at the edges when he sees me bouncing around to the beat. After the second time through the chorus, Adam taps his thumb against the steering wheel. I can’t stop myself from beaming at him.
Adam motions for me to join him from the edge of the bluff. “C’mon.”
A family with two young children sits at a picnic table a few feet away. Two attractive high schoolers with matching knit beanie hats stand near the edge, clinging to each other like they couldn’t breathe if they were to part.
From the protection of the parking lot’s edge, the view of the Mississippi River stretched out in front of downtown La Crosse is breathtaking. The water’s a murky shade of deep blue, and the bright greenery against the clear sky makes me wish I had my little Canon along, even though we’re a good hundred feet in the air.
Holding on to the hood of the Challenger, I feel my heart racing. “I’m good right here.
I can still see everything just fine.”
His expression falls. He curses under his breath as he starts toward me. “Shit. I forgot you’re afraid of heights. That was an asshole move to bring you up here.”
“Pulling out the asshole card is a bit harsh,” I say, laughing brightly. “I did tell you I went zip-lining.”
Setting the pizza bag down in front of the car, he pulls the blanket he grabbed from the trunk out from underneath his arm. The fleece blanket is worn thin, the ends tied together with knots, the pattern of dinosaurs. It’s quite obviously a treasure from when he was a little boy. I cover my mouth so he won’t see me grinning.