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Okay, I’ll meet you at the cabin thenis her reply. Nothing else.
Chris’s party started at noon, and it’s still in full swing by the time I beg off at six for dinner with my parents. Charlie tells me he had “something epic planned”, which honestly makes me glad I have an excuse to leave.
Past plans have gone awry.
I head home, shower, change, and then follow my parents to Alleghany’s fanciest restaurant. My mother wanted to go someplace in the city, but I told her I had plans with friends later and wanted to stay in town. At the time, it was an excuse to avoid spending additional time with my parents. It ended up being true if I were to characterize Maeve Stevens as a friend. I have no idea what to consider her. But it also gave me an excuse to take my own car, so there’s that.
My parents are waiting in the restaurant lobby when I enter the building, and the hostess immediately shows us to a private table. Or at least she tries to.
Progress is slow as my father fraternizes with every diner we pass whom he knows. Which is almost everyone. Inevitably, I get pulled in as a result of some football comment, and my mother is forced to chime in as well. It probably takes us a good fifteen minutes to travel the fifty feet to our table.
My father begins talking as soon as we settle in our seats, no doubt eager to keep the happy family charade going now that he’s alerted almost everyone in the restaurant to our presence.
“You know, I was talking to Joseph Andrews yesterday after a conference call,” my father says. “He’s still quite involved at Lincoln and thinks you’ll be a shoo-in for sure.”
“That’s great, Dad,” I mutter.
My father’s been talking about me attending his alma mater, Lincoln University, for as long as I can remember. He continues prattling on about it while we order and eat.
Once he’s exhausted that topic, he moves on to filling us in on all the business associates he’s met with this week. I barely bother to pay attention to him as I pick at my steak.
Finally, the check arrives.
“Thanks for dinner, Mom. Dad,” I add reluctantly, “I told people I’d be free at nine though, so…”
My mother nods toward the door. “Have fun with your friends. But be careful, and don’t be out too late, okay?”
“Okay,” I respond, kissing her on the cheek on my way out the door.
I speed toward the cabin. I’m late. I’ve always hated the pit that forms in my stomach whenever I’m not on time, but it’s more than that right now.
Excitement churns in my gut at the thought of seeing her.
When I pull into the cabin’s driveway, she’s already here. Waiting. I park and climb out of my car.
“Nice sweatshirt,” I state as I walk over to her. She’s wearing the one I gave her weeks ago with jean shorts, and I feel ridiculously overdressed in my polo shirt and khaki shorts.
She smiles. “Happy Birthday, Wes.”
“You remembered,” I state the obvious.
“Yeah, thank God for social media reminders, right?”
“We’re not friends on social media.”
Maeve lets out a small laugh. “No. We’re not.” It’s hard to tell in the dim light, but I think she’s blushing.
I start toward the woods.
“Where are you going?” she calls out after me.
“What do you mean?” I turn back around. The handful of times we’ve met here, we’ve always walked down to the lakeshore.
“We’re not staying here. I just wanted to take one car so I could surprise you.”
“Really?” I arch an eyebrow.
Maeve nods.
