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It all feels very adult. Like a glimpse into what the rest of our lives will look like.
By the time we leave the restaurant, I’m so full that it’s almost uncomfortable. There’s a slight chill in the evening air as we walk back toward the parked car.
I squint at the tall silhouette in the distance. “What’s that?”
Holden follows my gaze. “It’s the water tower.”
“You’ve been there before?”
I haven’t been to Arlington’s campus since one visit freshman year. Holden has visited here much more frequently. And recently.
“Nah. Finn has mentioned it. The guys go hang out there sometimes.”
“Can we go?” I’m not dreading the party, but I’d rather spend time with him alone instead of sharing his attention. Dragging this portion of the evening out as long as possible is my preference.
Holden raises one eyebrow in surprise but agrees. “Yeah, sure.”
It takes about ten minutes for us to follow the path. It leads from the small downtown section and through a wooded area. There’s no gravel or map, the grass worn away by forbidden steps.
I gaze up at the tall, distinctive shape, silhouetted against the darkening sky.
“Let’s climb it,” I decide impulsively.
Both of Holden’s brows rise this time. “You serious?”
I roll my eyes at his incredulity. I can be fun. Spontaneous. “Yeah. The view from up there is probably amazing.”
“Not when you’re falling to your death.”
My laugh is short and surprised. “This coming from the guy who used tofight for moneyin high school?”
“That was different.”
“It sounds just as reckless to me.”
“You weren’t involved. That’s why it was different.”
I still, absorbing the intensity behind his words. Processing the protectiveness.
“You can be kinda romantic sometimes, you know that?”
Holden grins as he shrugs out of his coat. “I have my moments. Here, hold this.”
He hands me his basketball jacket, then starts walking toward the ladder.
“Wait, what are you doing?” I call after him.
“Climbing it!”
“You just said it was too dangerous.”
“You just said that you want to climb it. So I’m going to check it out.”
I bite my bottom lip, watching him step onto the first rung. Second-guessing my own sense of adventure.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t serious. Let’s just go.”
He grins over one shoulder. It’s a dangerous, destructive one. The same one he used to flash on the Friday nights he’d come home late, drunk on adrenaline and who knows what else. I never thought there would be a day when I was the one who incited that in him.
