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He leaned back in his seat. “I don’t know what you think that type is, but I’ve already been accepted to law school for the fall semester. I’m going straight through. It must make me the lawyer type.”
“Let me guess. Your dad is a legacy. He has a big law firm in Raleigh and he’s already offered you a position as soon as you graduate. You’ll make partner in less than five years and he’ll hand over the keys to the firm by the time you’re thirty so he can start an early retirement.” I licked the salt from the rim of my glass.
“Someone thinks they have me all figured out.”
“Don’t I?” I had courage flowing through my veins. It was fun flirting and sparring with him.
“Pretty close. But it’s my mom, not my dad who is the attorney. The family business is in Wilmington, and if the past four years are any indication of me getting a job there, I’m going to have to do more than just show up with a law degree.”
“What does that mean?”
“Let’s just say I haven’t been the perfect A student, like some of us.” He eyed me over his glass. “It’s one of the reasons I’m in Comm 224. I heard it was an easy A.”
“Where did you hear that? All I’ve heard about are the crazy projects.”
“Yeah. But I don’t have to study. There aren’t any tests. I just go to class and the project is coming together. My last semester here is all about living it up. We’re seniors—we never get this time back. Don’t you just want to do something big?”
“Are you talking about your bucket list again?”
“No, not necessarily. I mean leave your own legacy. Surprise people.”
That was the only cue I needed. Laughing, I slid out of the booth.
“London, I’m not going up there with you again,” Beau called out to me as I hopped on the stage. I rescued the crowd from a trio trying to sing a bad Village People song.
A light round of applause sounded as I grabbed the mic. I covered it and whispered to the DJ.
“Ok, La Playa, this is a very special song, for a very special friend of mine. Someone who told me I should seize the moment and surprise people. Mr. Beau Anderson. Right over there. Yep, there he is. This one’s for you, Beau.”
He ducked down and slid lower in the booth.
I lowered my head as the sounds of piano notes filled the cantina. The music pushed the lyrics forward and I started singing Stay. This was by far my favorite Rihanna song and I had sung it a hundred times in the shower. Tonight, I was going to share it with the world—the world according to La Playa.
The song ended and I curtsied, handed the mic back to the DJ, and rejoined Beau.
“London James, ladies and gentlemen. Full of surprises.” He raised his glass to me.
I laughed and finished off my margarita. “Another round?”
“Oh no. I think it’s time we call it a night.”
Disappointed, I picked up my bag. I couldn’t keep the words bottled up. Tequila was an unwelcome filter eraser. “Why? You have a hot date or something?”
Beau’s eyebrow raised higher than the other one. “No. I have an intramural game tomorrow and I can’t stay out all night drinking with my Comm partner.”
“Oh.” I felt silly. “What sport?”
“It’s basketball. The championship game is tomorrow and I want to get that T-shirt.”
“T-shirt?”
Beau sighed. “I keep forgetting. You don’t know about sports. There’s a championship for all the intramural teams. The winners get an intramural T-shirt. It is one of the things on my bucket list. I’ve played sports four years here and never won the grande prix of shirts. Tomorrow’s the day.”
He maneuvered me toward the exit of La Playa. This was only my third motorcycle ride, but I already felt like an expert. I swung my leg over the side and clipped my helmet on, pulling snugly on the chin strap.
The bike roared into the gravel drive. Nina had left the porch light on for me. It was unlikely Candace was home.
“Thanks for the rock climbing and the margaritas, Comm partner.” I tried to attach the helmet to the seat, but I kept missing.
