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“One drink.” I smiled. One drink was all I needed.
Beau pulled the basket out of the car and slammed the trunk. It was a long walk to the arboretum from the ballpark, but it was undoubtedly one of the prettiest spring nights I had ever seen. The gardens were in the heart of campus. I had walked the gravel paths many times on my way to the theater, but I avoided the trails at night.
We entered the grapevine wrapped trellis walkway and turned into the botanical refuge. The garden was quiet and still.
“Where do you want to sit?”
I pointed under a tree that was just off the gravel path. “How about here?”
Beau placed the basket on the ground, and pulled out the blanket I had folded inside. As if he had a beach blanket full of sand, he shook it a few times before letting the corners fall to the ground. I worked out the gathered fabric and sat in the middle, giving Beau limited choices.
I poured two glass of champagne and handed one to my reluctant date. “Want to make a toast?”
“Nah. I’ll pass.” He took the glass and chugged the champagne.
“Brownie?” I offered a container of brownies I had baked earlier today.
“Sure.” He bit into the largest one in the pile. “So, what’s been going on?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that. I certainly wasn’t going to tell him Nina had to scrape my brokenhearted self out of bed and put me back together, or that I had been scheming for two weeks on how I was going to get him back. I opted for another truth. “Nina isn’t talking to me.”
He stopped devouring the brownie for a second. “What? She’s your best friend. How did that happen?”
“I told her what happened with Derek last week at the concert. She isn’t exactly over it yet.”
“That sucks. You two are really close.”
“It does. Thanks.” I reached for one of the brownies. “She just needs time, I think.”
“Probably.” Beau was back to his one-word answers. “It wasn’t your fault though. I heard what he said to you.”
“You did? You didn’t mention it.”
“He had no right to say any of that stuff. Like I said—he’s a jackass.” It was hard to see in the dimly lit garden, but I thought I saw jealousy flicker in his eyes.
“I don’t know if I really ever said thank you for what you did at the concert. So, thank you.” I reached across the blanket, but stopped before my hand touched his leg. It felt too soon. “What about you? How’s the bucket list coming along?” I leaned back, resting on my side.
He looked around the garden. “I can check this one off. Thanks. I’m almost done. I’ll definitely have it finished before graduation. I can’t believe it’s just around the corner.”
Ugh. Graduation. The issue that was hanging between us no matter how many glasses of champagne I filled us with. I looked at my empty glass and debated refilling it.
“Ok. Drinks are over. Let me get you back to your car.” Abruptly, Beau started shoveling the snacks into the picnic basket.
I thought I’d at least be able to flirt my way into a second glass of champagne. He was like a brick wall tonight that I couldn’t climb over.
“I’ll just walk back. You can go.” If he wasn’t going to stay, I didn’t need him hovering.
“No way. I’m not letting you walk alone at night across campus.” He folded the blanket and stuffed it in the side flap.
“Ok. Fine. You can walk me back.” I didn’t want to argue with him. We had actually reached a place where we were at least talking again.
We trudged up the hill, then down a steeper hill until we reached my car. It must have been the champagne swirling in my head because it didn’t seem to take as long to return.
I pulled out my keys to unlatch the truck when they fell from my fingers and hit the pavement. Shit. Why did Beau make me such a klutz? He swooped in front of me and picked the keys off the asphalt.
“That’s settled. I’m driving.”
“No. No. I’m fine. I can drive home. It’s less than a mile.”
