Page 79 of Until Then

Across the table, Derrick gives me a shy smile. “What’s your favorite color?”

It’s such a silly question when getting to know another person. Even so, I find myself smiling back. “Yellow. What’s yours?”

“Blue.”

“Favorite animal?” I ask him, realizing that I’m actually eager to know these simple details. Random questions like these can really help two people learn about one another.

He presses his lips together. “You’re going to laugh.”

That alone makes me giggle. “Oh, now I’m really intrigued.”

Sighing, he smooths the front of his shirt. “I like squirrels. They’re kind of batty and stupid, but cute at the same time. I’ve named the ones that hangout in the backyard. Sometimes I slip them a snack.”

“Hold on.” I lean forward, flooded with delight. “How did I not know this?”

“I’m usually up before you are. That’s when I sit outside with the squirrels. Harriet is my favorite.”

“What did you name the others?”

“There’s Peep and Tank—he’s the chubby one—and Kissy, and then there’s George.”

“George?” Sitting back, I laugh.

“Yeah, he sits in the tree and throws shit at me.”

Our waitress approaches with the bottle of wine we ordered, so we sit back, giving her space to fill twowineglasses. It isn’t until now that I realize how close we’ve drifted toward the center of the table, as if drawn like magnets with opposing poles. Once she’s filled the glasses, she asks if we’re ready to order, but honestly, we haven’t even looked at the menus, so Derrick asks for a few more minutes.

I peruse the extensive seafood menu, all the while smiling over the idea of Derrick sitting outside with the squirrels each morning. I’ll be setting my alarm tomorrow so I can spy on him.

When our waitress returns, we’re ready, and the second she’s gone, Derrick takes a sip of wine and says, “Your turn. What’s your favorite animal?”

“It changes constantly.” Fiddling with one of my rings, twisting it back and forth, I give the question real thought. “Right now, I’d say whales are my favorite.”

His eyes soften, the brown irises warm like melted chocolate. “I’m going to make sure you see a whale, Izzy.”

“Let’s hope.” I hold up my glass.

“It’s been an unusual year,” he says, scratching at his jaw. “They haven’t been hanging around as much as they normally do.”

“It’s okay,” I say. With a teasing smile, I drag my foot against the inside of his leg beneath the table. “At least now you can fuck me on your boat.”

He chokes—on his own saliva, I’m assuming, since the water and wine are untouched at the moment.

“Izzy,” he gasps, pressing his fist to his chest and sucking in air.

“What?” I bat my eyes innocently. “I think about it every time we’re out there. Have you not thought about it at all?”

He looks away, out at the water. The sunset is a beautiful mix of pinks and oranges. “More times than I’d care to admit.”

“Good,” I say simply, sitting back and feeling rather smug now that I know he’s felt just as tortured as I have these past few months.

Our dinner is delicious, and when we’re finished, Derrick leads me out of the restaurant and back to the truck.

On the way home, he turns into the gas station.

As he parks in front of the store, I can’t help the smile that takes over my face. “Slushies?”

He turns to me, the neon of the station’s sign illuminating him in a blue-green hue. “They are your favorite.”

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