Behind the Scenes(28)

“I texted Brendan,” I say. “And told him to meet us out front.”

“‘Kay,” Eryk says.

Crystal shoots me a reassuring smile. We’re getting closer to the club where Brian works a few nights a week cage dancing. A short line of people spills from the front door, and several stragglers hang out on the sidewalk, talking on the phone or smoking cigarettes.

My breath hitches when I catch sight of a familiar figure. Standing near the curb, he’s got his hands in his pockets. The old ball cap that was always glued to his head is nowhere to be found. Instead, his dark brown hair shines under the street light. It’s longer than I remember, curling at the nape of his neck.

My legs wobble slightly as we get closer to Brendan. When we’re a few yards away, he looks over and sees the three of us. His face breaks into a smile, the sight of it instantly taking me back years and pulling me over a thousand miles east.

“Hey.”

His hug envelops me. Though his hair is different, his scent is the same, reminding me of high school bonfires on the beach and countless nights spent hanging out in my parents’ basement. One of the best things about Brendan was he put up with my fascination with New Wave films. He’d sit next to me, nursing a beer for hours while we watched DVDs he never would have touched on his own.

Is that love? I don’t really know. I don’t have much else to compare it to.

“Hi,” I say into his neck, before stepping back to put a few feet between us. “How was your flight?”

“Good. Long, but good.”

I can barely hear what he’s saying. I’m too busy studying his face. He looks so much older than he did a year ago, but in a good way. Lee was right about him filling out. His shoulders are strong and hard. His face, though, is more chiseled. He’s a grown up now.

What’s happened to him over the last twelve months? We haven’t kept in touch. Does he have a girlfriend now? Is he still living with his parents, helping to take care of his younger sister?

“These are my roommates,” I say, remembering myself. “Crystal and Eryk.”

The three of them say their hellos, and I try not to stare at Brendan too hard.

“Wow, you’re really tall,” Brendan says to Eryk.

“Yep.” He turns and heads for the club without another word. I shoot Crystal a look, wondering why Eryk is being a dick. She shrugs and follows behind him.

Brendan hangs back, and we start to slowly amble towards the line together.

“Do you come here a lot?” he asks.

“I’ve actually never been here. Eryk’s new boyfriend works here.”

“Cool.” He nods and shoves his hands into his pockets. We stand next to each other in the line. I don’t know what to do with my hands or my eyes, so I stare down at my fingers while I twiddle them around.

“You look good,” he says.

“Yeah?” I glance up at his big brown eyes, one more attribute of his that hasn’t changed at all.

He nods and continues to gaze at me. Feeling awkward, I shuffle my feet and press forward in the line. Crystal and Eryk are standing right in front of us, and I know beyond a doubt they’re eavesdropping on my conversation.

“So what’s new in good ole’ Manteo?”

He grins. “Not much.”

“I talked to Lee last week. She told me about your new job.”

“Yeah, it’s nice.” He scratches the back of his head.

“They don’t mind that you’re taking off for the summer?”

“Nah. They have a couple high school kids helping out. They don’t really need anyone full-time again till September.”

“Oh. Cool.”

“People ask me about you all the time.”

I laugh. “Lee said the same thing. I mean, she said people ask her about me a lot.” I stare at the back of Crystal’s head. “I don’t know why.”

“Not a lot of people from our class actually moved away.”

I crinkle my nose. “That’s not true. Sandy moved to New York, and Justin Finn went to Charleston. And what about what’s his name… Donnie? Didn’t he move to Vancouver?”

“Toronto. Sandy came back a few months ago.”

“Oh.”

“But you haven’t.” He smiles at me.

I bite back my own grin. Crystal and Eryk are at the bouncer flashing their IDs, and I fish in my pocket for my own. We show our cards and then follow my two roommates through the dark doorway. The short hallway takes a twist and then we’re facing the main part of the club. Blue and green lights flash, the bass thrums. Eryk pushes his way through the crowd, parting it like the Red Sea. We stick close to him.