Page 100 of Brick Wall
I lightly punch him on the arm.
“Ow.” He holds his arm in pain. “That was my liftingshoulder. I guess I can’t do the lift anymore.”
“You wouldn’t dare back out.” I make a move to attack, but he’s quicker on his feet than I expected. He jumps up fast and dodges me, running closer to the sparkling ocean.
Bad move on his part because I’m now in the perfect position to jump.
Epilogue
A little over a year later…
Sebastian
The sun is shining bright with sweat dripping through my white T-shirt. It’s a beautiful, warm day in early June—the best day of the year so far, and I’m looking forward to nicer days ahead.
Annie and I are spending the day at the camp in Plymouth. Soon, this place will be filled with campers and more memories, but today we are getting ready for all the upcoming summer camps.
“Do you need help with that?” I ask a determined Annie, who is dragging a canoe underneath the decking.
“Oh, sure.” She rubs her hands on her shorts to get some sand off.
The old blue canoe is out as she did most of the work already. I pick up one end of the canoe and she grabs the other and we carry it closer to the water.
A big grin takes over Annie’s face when she sets that old boat down.
“What?” I ask with curiosity.
“Just a good memory popped into my head, that’s all.”
“Of me tipping us over in this thing?” I’m not sure how that’s a positive memory.
“Yup,” she says, popping thepoff her lips.
“And getting us soaked and almost drowned?”
“Yup,” she easily agrees, grin still in place. “Although the almost-drowned part is kind of dramatic, don’t you think?”
I hum my disagreement.
“I can’t believe that was almost two years ago now,” she says, lost in thought.
I grab both her hands and place them in mine. “It’s been a great two years.” I lean in to give her a quick kiss. I mean every word.
Life only got better after falling in the canoe, especially the whole falling for Annie Moore thing. I’d like to think she’d say similar sentiments.
The first year we were together, I won the super bowl with her by my side.
The second year we were together, she won the NCAA Volleyball Championship with me by her side. Her team killed it by defeating Kentucky 3–0 in the final game. Annie also became the first female head coach for D1 Women’s Volleyball to win a national title.
I’m so grateful the stars aligned that I could witness everything in person, cheering Annie on with all her family and friends in the stands.
Annie received even more job offers after her title win. One offer was so great that she couldn’t refuse—Chestnut Hill University extended her contract for multiple years for a historic sum. We’ll be in Boston together for the near and—hopefully—distant future.
“Hey, Sebastian. Do you want to take the old canoe out for a test drive?” Annie says, cutting off my thoughts.
“That sounds great,” I say without thinking, but shit, I can’t right now. “Maybe in a little bit?” I offer instead.
“Uh, yeah,” she says in return, but she’s assessing me, trying to figure me out.
