Chapter Eight

Wade

A brisk wind came off the ocean, carrying a scent of salty fish. No one was around. The only sound came from the boats rocking in the small waves and banging against the docks. Wade stuck his hands in his pockets and glanced over at Iris. She wrapped her arms around her body; he was sure her thin jean jacket didn’t offer much warmth against the autumn night. Noticing her lip shiver slightly, he tugged his hands free and started to remove his leather coat.

Iris stopped.

Wade turned to face her. “What’s wrong?”

The lights coming from the boathouse lit her face and made her eyes look like blue bottle glass. “You don’t have to do that,” she said. “My jacket is fine. Besides, you need yours.” She smiled then. “I do appreciate the gesture, though.”

“Will you just let me do this?” he said, removing it and draping it over her shoulders. She could be real stubborn sometimes. “I’m not trying to show ownership or anything. When a guy offers his coat, it’s about chivalry. Plus, my mom would bust my butt if I didn’t. And you never want to get a Cuban woman angry.”

“Way to stereotype your mom.”

“I’m not.”

She laughed. “Yes you are. Your mom is hardly ever mad. She’s pretty reasonable. And impressive. A lawyer. Running for senate—”

He groaned, cutting her off. “All I wanted to do was show I cared and keep you warm.”

“You didn’t let me finish,” she said. “I was going to say, and she raised a caring and awesome son.” She lightly bumped her shoulder into him and smirked. “And a pretty handsome one at that.”

He smiled at her compliment. “Okay, I get it. I shouldn’t be so sensitive.”

She lowered her head, watching her steps. “I like the sensitive types.”

The wind blew Iris’s hair around her face and she brushed it aside. Damn, she was beautiful. And pretty cool, when she wasn’t breaking his heart. She out-ate him in dollar hot dogs at the school fair once. Could belch louder than him after drinking a Dr Pepper. Even bested him in chess too many times it would make his balls shrink to admit. And she was cute while doing it all.

They walked close together on the narrow decking, their fingers briefly brushing against each other. She jumped a little and quickly moved her hand away.

He wanted to hold her hand, but something kept him from making the play. Nerves? Uncertainty? There was a voice continuously looping in his head. Something his dad had always said. Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me. Or was it fool me? Whatever it was, it made sense.

Could he trust her? That’s what kept playing in his head. He hated feeling insecure when it came to Iris. To his once best friend.

Just then, she glanced at him. Her smile was dazzling, and that cute upturned nose with a dusting of freckles strangled his heart. All the memories. All the time they’d been best friends. They were all outweighed by the one time she had crushed him. Whatever the reason she did it or however good her intentions were, it still hurt.

They approached his grandfather’s sailboat, and he offered his hand to help her onboard.

“Oh my gosh, Wade,” she said as he stepped up after her. “It’s beautiful. It looks brand new. You’ve done so much work on it.”

He was proud of it. The recent paint and varnish had brought new life to it. “I only need a new sail and I can bring it out for a run. It’s taking forever to raise the money, though.”

“Won’t your parents help you with some of the cost?”

He picked up the LED lantern and turned it on. “My mom doesn’t like my sailing, and this is a surprise for my dad. I’m hoping it’ll lift his spirits, you know. He used to sail with my papa when he was younger. I made this for him.” He directed the lamp’s light to the ramp he’d constructed. His dad had been paralyzed when a drunk driver crushed his Lexus.

“How is your dad doing?”

Wade lowered his arm, the light following his movement. “The locomotor training is working. He can stand and take a few steps now.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Yeah, we’re hopeful. This way,” he said, nodding toward the cabin.

She didn’t move, giving him a curious eye.

“It’s not what you think.” He chuckled and stepped down into the cabin, putting the lamp on the table just as she landed off the bottom step.

“Oh wow, this is amazing. Something smells good. Were you cooking in here?”

He grinned as he watched her inspect the newly updated kitchenette and varnished cabinets. The cabin did turn out better than he thought it would. It was like the inside of one of those expensive campers he saw with his dad at a trade show once.

“A man gave me the appliances,” he said. “His boat got it bad in the last hurricane. Carys did the upholstering and decorated the place.”

She stopped at the table Wade had arranged with one of his mom’s tablecloths and two full place settings of her china and silver. “You really outdid yourself.”

“I thought it would be cool to start at the beginning. You know, how I used to cook for you all the time back when we were friends.” He took the lighter out of the kitchen drawer and lit the tea lights in the middle of the table.

She gave the candles a suspicious look.

“And these aren’t for romantic effect,” he said. “We just need more light. Have a seat.” Yeah, it totally looked romantic. He should’ve gone with paper plates, but he hadn’t had the time to buy any.

“I’m so impressed,” she said, sliding into the booth.

The oven was still warm, though he’d turned it off more than thirty minutes ago when he went to pick up Iris. He opened the oven door, removed the tray from within, and closed it with his knee. After he placed the tray on the side of the table, he scooted across the bench seat next to Iris.

She looked from the tray to Wade. “You made potato balls?”

“Papas rellenas,” he said.

“I know.” She smiled. “I just like how you say that.”

He chuckled. “Well, I hope that’s okay,” He removed the tinfoil from a bowl full of salad on the table.

“Are you kidding?” She took the paper napkin from the etched floral plate and unfolded it. “I love them. I miss going to your house for dinner. Your grandmother taught you well.”

“I’ll tell her you said so the next time she calls.” Wade spooned some salad onto a plate and set it in front of Iris, and then he scooped some onto a plate for himself.

After piling on a few fried balls filled with mashed potatoes and spicy beef, Iris took a crunchy bite, most of the insides escaping and plopping on her plate. “Delicious,” she said, which came out somewhat incoherent with her mouth full.

When they were finished, Wade served flan and tea with cream.

Iris leaned back against the cushions. “I feel spoiled. Working at your uncle’s restaurant is really paying off.”

“Yeah, I enjoy it. I’m thinking of going to culinary school after graduation.”

“It’s really cool he uses your grandmother’s recipes.”

“It was hard getting them out of her. She’d take them to her grave if she could.” Wade stretched back on the cushions behind him.

The boat rocked as they sat there, neither one speaking, the faint sound of the waves lapping against the boat’s hull filling the silence. Wade adjusted on his seat, his fingers barely touching Iris’s hand.

He was crazy to be so nervous around her. It was Iris. They’d known each other forever. Her leg brushed against his and excitement rushed through him. They stared at each other, and he fought back the urge to kiss her.

Friends. But I want to be more than that.

She had a way of making him fall. Like a bird with a broken wing, falling and spinning out of control. He thought about straightening to break the intense eye contact going on between them. It was like a magnetic field pulling them closer. He lowered his head, but before their lips met, her eyebrows crinkled and she straightened, moving away from him.

She clutched her head and groaned. Her breaths went heavy and she leaned back against the cushions.

Wade grabbed her wrists, trying to pull her hands away. “What is it?”

“Pain— Headache.” She fell against him and he wrapped his arms around her.

“Can you move?” Wade didn’t know how to help her. Adrenaline rushed through him. He had to do something.

She shook her head against his chest. “No.” There was desperation in her tone.

“I’ll call 911.” He scanned the table for his cell phone and remembered he’d left it on the counter.

“No. No, I’m okay.” She wiggled away from him. “It’s gone.”

“Has this happened before?” He didn’t like this.

“No.” She picked up her teacup, her hand shaking, and took a sip. “I was up late studying.”

Was she hiding some illness from him? He’d never seen anyone get a sudden headache that went away as fast as it had started. It could be a brain aneurysm or something equally serious. Several years ago, his aunt had gotten one while watching her kids at a park and died on the spot. But he wouldn’t say that to Iris. He wouldn’t want to scare her.

Wade slid out of the booth. “I should get you home so you can rest.”

“Let me help you clean up.” She scooted to the other end of the seat and stood.

“It’s no problem,” he said. “There’s no running water. I just have to toss it all in a container.”

When he’d finished putting the used dishes and leftovers in the container, he made sure the propane was off and the cabin secured before walking with Iris back to his dad’s car. She avoided eye contact with him the entire drive to her house, staring out the window. The only words spoken were him asking how she was every few minutes. With each of her answers that she was fine, he sensed her annoyance.

“I’m fine,” she would say, just staring out at the street.

He pulled the car up to the curb. By the time he made it to the passenger side to help her out, she was already on the sidewalk.

“You know what the problem with today’s youth is?” he asked, burying his hand in his pants pocket as he walked alongside her.

“You sound like my dad,” she said. “I give. What’s wrong with us?”

“Girls don’t let guys open their doors for them.”

She gave him a sidelong glance. “You’re really into this chivalry thing, aren’t you? Have you been watching some classic romance movies lately?”

“No. My dad used to open doors for my mom and give her his coat when she was cold.” He kicked a rock on the sidewalk, and it skipped along until it settled in the grass. “He can’t do that anymore. But I can. Maybe I’ll start a trend. Before long, you’ll have guys rushing to open doors for you.”

“I’m not sure I could handle that.” She laughed. “I’m perfectly capable of opening my own doors.”

“I concede,” he said. “I’ll try not to open them for you.”

She glanced at him again. “You give up too easily. If you’re going to make a change, you can’t be chased off by some opposition.”

“Look at you using fancy words.”

“Yep. I read the dictionary at night,” she said.

“Well, that would definitely put you to sleep.” He motioned for her to go up the steps before him.

At her door, before she went inside, she turned to face him. “I had a great time. Thanks for making it so special.”

“I hope you feel better.” He backed away. “See you at school?”

She stood in the doorframe, what seemed to be a disappointed look on her face. “Okay.”

He turned and bounded down the steps.

“Stop it.” He thought he heard her say, but it was so quiet and sounded like a hiss.

He glanced back.

She was rubbing at her temples.

“Did you say something?” he asked.

“Um…no, sorry. Good night.” She ducked inside and shut the door.

Wade sat in his dad’s van. He wasn’t sure what had just happened. Most of the night went great. They were making progress. What was up with the sudden headache? Was it real or did she fake it so she could end their date early?

Dammit. There it was again, the insecurity, questioning if he trusted her or not. He started the ignition and drove off.