Chapter 9

Carrie and I left campus and walked the short distance to the Norlin Library. I gave her the same spiel I’d once heard about how it’d grown up one addition at a time and was now a maze. She nodded and smiled and enjoyed seeing some of the stacks, but it started to feel lame quickly, so we went over to the Student Union. When we got there, I checked the balance. I had twenty-five dollars left. I withdrew all but the last five dollars out of my account. I wouldn’t get paid for two weeks, so I’d have to somehow make it work or figure out how to get some loans.

I did show her the game room with the pool tables and mini-bowling alley, but those cost money so I didn’t suggest we play. After that, we wandered through the central campus while I pointed out buildings and talked about my classes. She asked a few casual questions as we did, but it was mostly small talk.

“So why are you studying French?” I asked as we meandered in the general direction of the business school. The sun had broken through the clouds, making it pleasant until we walked through shadows.

“It seemed like a good idea.”

“Oh?”

She shrugged. “I was already taking it.”

“But you’re not passionate about it?”

She shrugged again. “I haven’t figured out what I want to do yet.”

“Ah.” Several of my dorm mates were in the same boat. Even Len, to some degree. He knew he was going into business, but that was all he knew.

“Do you think you’ll make a good doctor?” she asked as we left the last of the dorms and could see the business school across a sunny field where the snow had turned to slush.

“Yeah,” I said. “I’ll be good.”

“Why?”

I blinked. That was a strange question and I didn’t know how to answer it. Instead, I stared at the business school. Since I didn’t know how to answer, I changed the subject.

“That’s where Len takes most of his classes.”

“Oh. Okay. Where’s the bridge?”

“Bridge?” I tilted my head and looked at her.

She smiled back. “The bridge. You know. Lori told me about it.”

“Oh. That bridge. It’s that way.”

I pointed back the way we’d come and Carrie turned that direction.

“You want to see it?” I asked.

“Mmm hmm.”

“Okay.”

We started walking that way while my mind whirled. Lori had told Carrie about our first kiss? Obviously, she had. They were best friends, so it did make some sense. But ... I hadn’t told anybody. And I wouldn’t because ... well, guys don’t talk. Not if they want to get kissed again.

But girls were different, I knew. Still, it surprised me.

So we walked mostly in silence toward the small wooded area where the bridge was. To my mild surprise, I felt quite comfortable. There was something in Carrie’s occasional smile that calmed me.

We reached the path through the woods and slowed our walk. The path hadn’t been shoveled and the shade from the trees meant not all the snow had melted. We hit a few icy patches where we had to carefully watch our step. Carrie slipped at one point and raised her arms to balance herself. I reached out and she briefly grabbed my hand to steady herself.

Hers was warm and fit gently in my palm. But I released it as soon as she was on surer footing.

We reached the bridge and Carrie strode out into the middle. She leaned against the rail in almost the same spot Lori had done before our kiss. I moved to her side, but with a bit more space than I’d done with Lori.

Carrie slowly scanned the partially frozen pond and the snow-covered trees. She smiled contentedly and moistened her lips. She tilted her head when she smiled at me.

My palms sweated. Her body language was too inviting, but ... she couldn’t be angling for me to kiss her! She was Lori’s best friend, and she was a lesbian!

So I just smiled back.

Our eyes met. Hers were warm. They widened slightly. Then she looked away.

“We should get lunch,” she said.

“Yeah,” I said. I let out a breath. I’d clearly misread the moment. Lunch sounded like a good idea.

Carrie had parked her Camaro at one of the meters down the street from the dorm, so we didn’t bother going back to my room. She talked a little about some engine trouble she’d had over the summer, but it seemed pretty minor. I wasn’t really listening. I was too busy replaying what had happened or not happened on the bridge.

We drove up The Hill past the student section and through the old and really rich neighborhood. We reached the Chautauqua Park at the base of the Flatirons and Carrie maneuvered into the little parking lot between the trailhead and a large grassy lawn. There were a lot more buildings here than I expected. It looked like dozens of cabins extended beyond the park to the south. She gave me a smile as we got out of the car.

The warm sun was back, and Carrie actually put on Ray-Bans. She looked really cool that way—like a modern Audrey Hepburn. She certainly had the sleek physique to pull off Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She smiled and her head bobbed as she looked all around.

We walked up the long wooden steps into the dining hall, which was more like a cozy cabin restaurant than anything else. A host led us to a table by a window. Admittedly, the view was just of the extended lawn, but it helped the place feel cozy and elegant.

“This is nice,” she said as she sat across from me.

“Yeah. It is.”

She slowly looked around and then smiled. “You should bring Lori here.”