Chapter 2

“What exactly do you do?” I say. “You’re always dressed so nice when you come in.”

“I’m a whale watching guide,” she says. “Cap’n Dave’s Whale Watching Tours. You heard of it?”

I nod.

“This is Cap’n Dave’s car by the way. If it were mine, we’d totally be eating ice cream right now as we speak. But, alas, Cap’n Dave prefers his upholstery to be ship shape and food free. He also doesn’t know I have his car.”

I can’t help but laugh. “You stole your boss’s car? To take me up the mountain. To watch the sunset.”

“Yep. Pretty much.” She stops at a T-intersection and looks both ways before turning right to head over the bridge. “Cap’n Dave’s also like my twenty-seventh cousin, once removed, or something. So it’s cool. We’re family.”

I let out a little snort of a laugh, and then lean back, cradled by the headrest, to enjoy the cool evening air on my face. Even over the car’s noisy exhaust system, it’s peaceful.

I glace over at Kaitlin on my left as I wonder which deity I have to thank for this spontaneous outing we’re undertaking. Not only is she cute, but I’m beginning to think that underneath her normal buttoned up facade, she’s maybe a slightly unhinged. But, in a good way.

“How did you get to be a whale watching tour guide?”

“I’m majoring in marine biology at the university down in Portland. I spend my summers here,” she says. “That, and I don’t get seasick very easily. That’s a plus.”

“I suppose it helps.”

“Mm-hmm. So what’s the story with you and Aunt Bee?” she asks.

“Aunt Sarah.”

“Sure, whatever.”

“Just kind of hanging out. Until I figure out what I’m doing with my life.”

Kaitlin swings the car into the parking lot just as the bottom of the sun touches the horizon. “Just made it,” she says, and we pile out.

There is a small crowd already here, probably all tourists by the looks of the rental cars and out of state plates. Kaitlin takes me by the hand and pulls me toward the walking path. I shiver just a little at her bold touch, but she doesn’t seem to notice.

The sunset is beautiful. I suppose it’s probably beautiful every night, but I’ve never taken the time to notice it before. Kaitlin is still holding my hand, even though we’ve gone as far as we can on the short walking trail.

“Nice,” is all she says. And for a while we both just stare out into the rich pinks and oranges, then finally the deep blues, that color the evening sky and its wispy clouds.

“I’m trying to be more spontaneous,” Kaitlin says, completely unprompted. “Get out and have fun. Do things I wouldn’t normally do.”

“Like asking a girl to have ice cream and then dragging her off to watch a sunset instead?” I’m grinning and tugging at her fingers as I turn to face her.

“Yeah, kinda like that.” Kaitlin tugs back, pulling me closer. She gives me a little peck on the cheek. “I’ll still buy you ice cream though.”

I stand, in stunned silence, thinking about how many times this moment has played out in my mind, as I watched Kaitlin—a woman whose name I didn’t even know until today—from the other side of the counter in my aunt’s diner.

I screw up all the courage I can muster, and kiss her back, right on those honey lips this time.

“This is nice,” I say, kicking a toe at the gravel path under my feet, to shy to look at her face, my sudden burst of courage exhausted.

Kaitlin tugs at my hand again. “Wanna make out in the car?”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Just don’t drool on the upholstery. Cap’n Dave will have a fit.”

I smile and traipse along beside her as we head down the path.

“I feel like such a teenager,” she says.

I eagerly nod my agreement.

* * *

The windows have been completely fogged over for the last thirty minutes or so, and I can’t really see if there are any cars left in the parking area or not. I don’t really care, either. Just a bunch of tourists I’ll never see again, I tell myself. And I’m making out with my dream girl.

Kaitlin’s got one hand still wrapped in my hair, and the other wandering over my thigh, edging higher, but still keeping a respectful distance. I find myself wishing, just a little, that she weren’t so respectful. And also that we were in the back seat, so that I wouldn’t have the center console poking at my ribs every time I lean in for another smooch.

“You take a lot of girls up here?” I tease, and tug at her lower lip with my teeth.

“Nope, just you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. I told you, I’m trying to be more spontaneous.” She kisses me again.

“So you just picked some random girl—”

Kaitlin laughs. “Random girl, I like that.”

“What?”

“You really think your Aunt Esther’s seafood chowder is what keeps me coming back to the diner everyday?”