“You can call him Charlie, ya know.” I don’t fight the grin that’s blooming on my face.
“It’s a respect thing for me.” He takes another bite of salad.
I nod. Graham is such a sweetheart.
“How are he and Beth doing?” he asks. “Everyone at work is curious.”
I stab my fork through some of the crunchy lettuce on my plate. “They’re good,” I say. “They’re finally getting it right.”
Graham reaches for my hand across the table and gently takes it in his. He rubs his thumbs over my knuckles.
“I think a few of us are finally getting it right.”
After Regiano’s, we head down to the pier for ice cream. It’s busy tonight, as families try to squeeze in as much togetherness as they can before summer ends. It’s nice being here with Graham. It feels like I’ve known him a lot longer than a single summer.
We both decide on ice cream cones — confetti cake for me and mint chocolate chip for Graham. I wouldn’t have pegged him for a mint chocolate chip kind of guy but I’m still learning details about him. I’m excited to keep uncovering little treasures like this.
We slowly walk along the pier as we eat our ice cream, dodging families of all sizes and even some dogs. Graham stops and leans against the railing and I follow suit. The sun is setting, creating a beautiful, real-life watercolor painting before us. Streaks of pink and orange burst through bits of blue and it just might be one of the prettiest sunsets I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
We stay at the railing for a while after the sun sets, finishing our ice cream. The sky turns completely dark and the stars come out. I marvel at them. You can actually see the stars out here in Driftbay. I never really could back in Seattle.
Graham points out a shooting star and leans down to whisper in my ear.
“Close your eyes and make a wish,” he murmurs.
I squeeze my eyes tight and know instantly what I want to wish for. I wish for more moments like this, moments that make me glad to be alive.
I open my eyes to see Graham staring at me in adoration. The warm breeze of salty air blows over my skin, giving me goosebumps.
“What?” I laugh.
“Just thinking,” he murmurs.
“About what?”
“You know, I wanted to move away for so long,” he says. “I thought that was what I wanted. But it turns out I was wrong all along. I think I was meant to stay in Driftbay, not only for my mom, but for a beautiful girl who loves to bake.”
He leans forward and I feel my eyes flutter closed. His hand brushes my cheek and then he grasps the hair at the base of my neck. I tilt my head up and his lips are on mine — it’s like time stops for a moment.
I swear I can hear fireworks going off in the distance, but it could just be my imagination. The butterflies in my stomach take flight and leave me breathless as we part. Graham looks at me like I’m the greatest thing he’s ever seen.
“I have wanted to do that for so long,” he says quietly. He smiles, his eyes sparkling. Everyone on the pier has faded away and I only see him.
“Really?” I ask.
“Was it not obvious?” he laughs.
“Maybe a little,” I say as I shrug.
He takes my hand again and we begin to walk the length of the pier, now lit up with arcade lights from the various games and attractions, the scent of saltwater taffy making my mouth water. We head to the golf cart, continually bumping into each other as wewalk. Like a true gentleman, he helps me step up into the golf cart before driving me home.
Graham cuts the engine after we pull into the driveway and we sit in silence for a few moments. I fiddle with the bouquet of daisies laying across my lap.
“What did you wish for?” he asks as we walk to the front door.
“I can’t say or else it won’t come true,” I say, playfully hitting his shoulder. “Isn’t that the rule?”
He smiles. “You’ve got me there.”
