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We drove for about half an hour, but he never let on where we were going. He was getting good at surprising me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy getting the Seren-treatment.
My phone pinged. I checked the screen. It was a text from Roger, a guy I’d grown up with.Hey, Grace.Any chance you wanna go to prom with me?
I winced.
“What?” Seren asked, his eyes jumping between me and the road.
“It’s just some guy from Coopersville,” I said, downplaying it so he didn’t overreact. “He wants me to go to the prom with him.”
“Do you wanna go with him?” Seren asked.
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind being with my friends, but…”
“But what?”
I shook my head. “I’m just gonna tell him I can’t.”
“Go, if you want,” Seren said, his words holding no conviction whatsoever.
“I think I have plans that night,” I said.
His eyes cut to mine. “Doing what?”
“Hanging out with you.”
He smiled, and there wasn’t anything better than a Seren Grayson smile. “Great fucking answer.”
I laughed before sending off a thank-you-but-I-can’t text to Roger who sent a quick response.No worries.
When I looked up, I realized where Seren was taking me. My eyes shot to him. His eyes held a mix of indecision, and I understood why. His surprise could bring me sad memories or help me create new memories with him. I’d asked Seren to show me the real him. I’d asked him to stop screwing up. But nothing prepared me forthisthoughtful surprise. “One of these days, Seren Grayson,” I said. “One of these days I’m gonna tell everyone your secret.”
His face sobered. “What secret?”
“The one about you being the most thoughtful guy I know.”
“I’m only this way with you.”
“Exactly. No one else gets to see it. And it’s such a shame.”
“I don’t care about anyone else. I only care about you.”
Sincerity coming from Seren seriously floored me.
He turned into the parking lot—theaquariumparking lot. I pulled in a deep breath as he parked and killed the engine. He glanced over at me. “Are you okay with this?”
I nodded.
We stepped out of the car and he met me at the front, linking our fingers as we walked to the aquarium entrance. He showed the cashier our tickets on his phone and we stepped inside.
Nostalgia swept over me as the sea blue walls and ceiling surrounded us. It had been two years since I’d been there, but it looked the same. Glass exhibits filled the first floor, and I suddenly couldn’t wait to explore every inch of the aquarium with Seren.
We wandered over to the penguin exhibit first. The adorable penguins waddled over rock formations before diving into their pond. I paused to watch them speed through the water like little darts, so free under the water.
We continued to the next exhibit, stopping at its glass wall. A beluga whale appeared, swimming toward us as if it knew we were waiting to see it materialize. It took a sharp left turn so it didn’t collide with the glass and disappeared. We waited for a few minutes, but it didn’t return so we
moved to the next exhibit.
My excitement grew.
