Date Me, Bryson Keller(52)

“That was fun,” Bryson says. We head back to the Jeep. “Here.” He holds out a bottle of water. It’s a little warm but it goes down smoothly. I sigh with satisfaction.

Bryson drinks his own bottle, and when he’s done, he takes both of our empty bottles over to the trash can at the edge of the parking lot. I watch as he bends to take off his shoes. Bryson pulls off his socks, too. He wiggles his toes and gives me a wink before stepping onto the beach.

    I bend and remove my own shoes, then follow Bryson onto the sand as he walks toward the water. We come to a stop at the water’s edge and watch as the ocean ebbs and flows.

Bryson takes a step into the water and laughs. The sound—pure, undiluted joy—warms me. He runs deeper into the water and I chase him. I splash water at him, but he easily avoids it. Not willing to let him get away, I continue my assault. Bryson shrieks when the water hits its mark.

“Okay, okay, okay,” Bryson says with a laugh. He holds up his pruned hands in surrender. “I give up.”

With my chest heaving and a smile spread across my face, I bask in this feeling. Normally I would be nervous about the way my wet shirt clings to my body, but with Bryson I’m not ashamed. Closing my eyes, I hold my face up toward the sun.

“Thank you for today.” Bryson’s voice makes me open my eyes. He’s closer than he was before. Standing next to me. We both smile.

“You’re welcome.” I leave the water behind and sit down on the sand, warm in the afternoon sun. Bryson joins me a short while later.

“So, when do you want to use your wish?” I ask.

“I just got it and you want me to spend it? I consider it an investment.” Bryson looks around us. “Besides, I think I have everything I want right now.”

    “For someone who had to be dared to date, you really are romantic.”

Bryson sighs. “I know I said I didn’t date because of me not wanting to put in the time and effort, but the real reason was my dad. I was scared I’d be like him. I’d hate to hurt someone I supposedly loved. You know, he blamed my mom for the affair. Said that he was unhappy and that’s why he cheated.” Bryson blinks back tears. “If he was so unhappy, why didn’t he just leave? Why did he have to hurt us all with his lies? It’s one of the things I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive him for.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. It’s the only thing I can say. I move closer to him so that our shoulders touch. We sit like that in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts but just happy to have the other there.

Bryson eventually breaks the silence. “What are you thinking about?” He lifts his finger and taps at my forehead. “Your forehead is all wrinkled.”

“Just deciding not to worry about tomorrow when I have today right in front of me.”

“Damn, Sheridan. Are you writing a book?”

I laugh. “This all feels like a dream to me, you know?”

He turns to look at me. My words hang between us heavy like rain clouds just waiting to burst. His face is serious, and his eyes never leave mine. He’s silent for a heartbeat. Then he reaches across and pinches me.

“Ouch!” I rub the back of my hand. “What was that for?”

“To remind you that it’s real.”



* * *



? ? ?

It’s evening. The sky is stained the colors of sunset. Food boxes lie at our feet. We got drive-through burgers and returned to the beach. I pick up a fry and chew.

Sitting with Bryson watching the sun go down is one of the most romantic things I’ve ever done in my life. The thought has me smiling.

“What?” Bryson asks when he catches me.

“Nothing.”

“Tell me.” He pokes at my ribs with his finger. “Tell me, tell me, tell me.”

“Just”—I shrug—“this is kind of romantic.”

Bryson sprawls across the sand and rests his head in my lap. “It is.”

I reach out and trace his features. This time I’m brave enough to do so. I move my finger across his thick brows and down his straight nose. I hover above his lips, where just last night my own were. Our eyes lock, and electricity sparks between us.

Bryson reaches for my outstretched hand and pulls me forward. He brings our faces together. His lips find mine again. I moan into his mouth as he deepens the kiss.

We stay connected until we’re both out of breath. I pull back slightly and hover there, our faces mere inches apart.

“I’m really glad you said yes,” I admit.

“And I’m really glad you asked me out in the first place.” Bryson smiles. “When I think back to how you were at the start of this week, I can’t believe it.”

    “Why?”

“You’re so open now. So confident.”

“Not really,” I say. “I’m just comfortable with you. And because of that I’m able to be more myself than before.”

“Well, I’m glad I got to see this side of you,” Bryson says. “I’m all for it, as long as you never stop blushing. I’d be too sad if that were to stop.”

“Just for you, I won’t.”

We fall into a comfortable silence. Bryson closes his eyes and starts to hum a song by the Graces. I eat the rest of my fries and listen to not only the sound of the ocean, but also my boyfriend’s incredibly bad humming.