Page 59 of Between Then and Now
We spend a few more minutes scanning through the other books and reading what other people have written.
“This is incredible. Some are so heartfelt, and others are just writing shit in here,” Ryan says as he chuckles.
“Yeah, like this one,” I say, walking to him. “Dear future reader, I tried to leave some profound wisdom here, but all I could think about was empanadas. So, eat empanadas. A lady is selling them in the next street.” I chuckle lightly.
“This one says, ‘Dear future me, next time, bring a map.’ They probably got lost and ended up here,” Ryan says.
“Sounds like a fun adventure, if you ask me,” I say.
We scan the room for a few more notes, each one a glimpse into the thoughts of strangers who once stood where we are now. As we put the books back on the shelves, a comfortable silence settles between us. The warmth of the moment lingers, and I feel a sense of closeness with Ryan that I haven’t felt with anyone in a long time.
Ryan glances at his watch, then at me. “It’s getting late, but there’s one more place I want to show you. If you’re still up to it.”
“As long as we check out the empanadas in the next street,” I say. My stomach suddenly rumbles in perfect timing.
“Didn’t you eat dinner?” he asks as we step out of the chamber of secrets. I’m sure it’s not called that, but it’s fitting.
“Two slices of boring pizza,” I say.
“What, no disgusting topping?” he asks, chuckling.
“And risk being judged? No way,” I say as Ifollow Ryan back to the plaza.
“Well, you certainly won’t be called boring.”
“It will surely circle me back to the ‘too much’ category.” I shrug. There’s no winning with guys like John.
We get our empanadas and we both eat as we walk toward wherever he’s taking me. By the time we finish our food, a lighthouse is visible from a distance, its light unmistakable in the night sky.
“This is it,” he says, his voice filled with a quiet reverence. “The lighthouse.”
The base of the lighthouse is surrounded by a low stone wall, enclosing a small, well-kept garden. Even in the dim light,I can make out the shapes of various plants and flowers, their leaves rustling gently in the evening breeze. A cobblestone path leads from the gate to the entrance.
“Are we allowed to go inside?” I ask, already walking along the path.
“One way to find out,” he says.
We climb the narrow spiral staircase, our footsteps echoing in the stillness. “Since when are you a rule breaker?” I tease.
“Technically, we’re not even sure if there’s a rule we’re breaking,” Ryan says as we continue our ascent. The air grows cooler as we go higher, but I barely notice because the mere inches between us fill me with a warmth that nothing else could provide.
“But if it brings a smile to your face, Bon,” he says as he stops and turns to face me. His eyes gleam in the darkness as he adds, “then I’d break a thousand more.”He flashes me a smile.
His words—and his face—send a flutter through my stomach, but I keep it cool, smiling back at him. “That’s a lot of rules to break just for a smile.” Oh God, was that flirting? Am I flirting with Ryan?
“It’s not just a smile, though,” he says softly, locking eyes with me, “It’s yours.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what did me in. The drowning last week? Child’s play. But this right here? Game over for Bonbon.
He turns away before I can respond. Thank God. Because I don’t know what I’d say to that.
When we reach the top, the view takes my breath away. The endless expanse of the ocean stretches out before us, waves crashing against the rugged coastline far below. The stars seemcloser, the air crisper, and the world feels both vast and intimate at the same time.
We step out of the lantern room where the light is housed and look over the scenery from the lighthouse balcony. The balcony itself is a narrow walkway encircling the tower, protected by a sturdy wrought-iron railing. The floor is cold beneath our feet, and the wind tugs playfully at our clothes and hair.
“Wow, this is amazing,” I say breathlessly. I lean against the rail and watch as the ocean waves crash against the cliff below. Without thinking, I clutch Ryan’s arm beside me.
“What’s wrong?” he says. I turn away from the ocean wave and start walking around the lighthouse so I’m looking at green mountains instead.
