The Remedy (The Program 0.5)(51)

I put my elbows on the table, leaning toward him. “Thanks for taking me out today,” I say. “I’m glad you suggested it.”

“Me too.”

The server returns with our drinks, and we ask for more time to look over the menu. Now that I’m here, I’m not very hungry. The girl leaves, and just then the sun dips behind the clouds. Isaac looks up at the sky, frowning.

“I hope it doesn’t rain,” he says. “I checked the forecast and it promised sunshine—at least until later in the day.”

“You checked the forecast?” I ask.

He licks his bottom lip. “Well, yeah,” he responds. “It’d be a mess to get caught in the rain somewhere—especially after last night. I wanted it to be perfect.”

My body warms at his consideration. “That’s sweet,” I say quietly. I almost ask him if he’s always this sweet to me, but I catch myself before I do. I steer us away from flirtation and toward safer topics.

“Remind me,” I say. “What are your plans for after graduation?”

Isaac sips from his soda, and then leans in. I note how much closer we’re sitting to each other now. “Scholarship to UCLA,” he says, trying to be humble but I can see how proud he is. “Right now I’m debating whether I want to major in business or photography.”

“Photography?” I say, honestly surprised. “And wow—those are two very different life plans.”

He laughs. “Yeah, well, one is my mother’s idea, and one . . .” He pauses a moment. “And one is your idea, actually.”

“Oh,” I say, looking down. I put my finger on my cold glass, tracing a line in the condensation. “Those are your pictures on my wall, aren’t they?” I ask softly. I meet Isaac’s gaze, and he nods.

“You liked to find things for me to shoot,” he says. “Those were all places and objects you picked out. I took them for you.”

He loves me so much. Every inch of him reaches for me, wants to wrap me up. It’s overwhelming.

The sun comes out again, and I close my eyes and lift my face toward it, letting it warm my cheeks. He took pictures for me, I think. I should have known he did that. I should have found the journal pages earlier. When I get back home, I’ll read everything. I want to know more about him. It’s important. For his recovery.

* * *

When the server returns, Isaac orders “my favorite.” Luckily, when the patchwork pizza arrives, it’s covered in cheese and vegetables, and it’s something I actually like. The breeze picks up, tickling my cheek with the short strands of my hair.

“I know I only asked you to lunch,” Isaac says between bites of food. “But do you want to go somewhere after this? To the river, or even a movie?” He pauses, scrunching his nose. “I know you hate the movies, but you like popcorn.” He smiles, adorable in his nervousness.

I’m about to tell him that I’d love to, when someone enters my peripheral vision and walks past us to take the table just behind Isaac. When the guy lifts his head, I gasp audibly. Aaron winks behind a pair of black hipster glasses, his face smooth and beard-free. How did he even find me?

Isaac turns around to glance at Aaron, but with ease my friend is examining his menu like he has no idea we even exist. Isaac looks at me, and I smile politely.

I pick up my drink, but my hand slips and the glass falls and hits the table. A wave of soda and small cubes of crushed ice splash across the white cloth. Both Isaac and I jump up, trying to dodge the river of liquid, but it’s already dribbled onto my lap.

“I’m so sorry,” I say, brushing the liquid off my jeans.

Isaac grabs his napkin and rounds the table. He uses the fabric as a dam at the edge of the table. “Here.” He shakes out my napkin and hands it to me. “I’ll get the waitress.”

He touches my arm as if assuring me it’s no big deal, but we both freeze at his touch. He doesn’t pull away immediately, and my stomach flutters as his fingers slide down my arm, touching my hand before letting go. He apologizes quietly, whether for touching me or for letting go, I’m not sure. Without another glance, he goes inside to get the server.

The minute the door closes behind him, I turn abruptly to Aaron. “What the hell?” I say.

Aaron laughs. “I have to admit, you’re freaking smooth, Quinlan. I almost believed that was an accident.”

“Har, har,” I say, walking over to pause at the end of his table. “How did you even find me here?”

“Tracking app on your phone,” he says, like it’s completely normal. My hand immediately goes to my pocket, but Aaron brushes off my concern.

“Don’t be paranoid,” he says. “We all have them. Standard issue. What I want to know,” he says, sitting back and crossing his ankle over his knee, “is what you’re doing on a date.”

“I’m on assignment,” I correct. “And he can’t see you here”—I look toward the door—“so this had better be good.”

Aaron smiles broadly. “Oh, it is. Remember Virginia?”

My body tenses. “Yeah?”

“I found out who she is, and you are not going to believe it.”

I take a worried look at the door, expecting Isaac any moment. “Spit it out,” I tell Aaron, putting my hand on my hip to show him my impatience.