Page 15 of Stops Along the Way
“No idea,” he says. “I’ll have to take a class and let you know.” I lean forward to shove him for being preposterous, and he laughs, eager to latch on to my hands and playfully push back. “What about you? What are you going to study?”
I sit back and readjust my hair as if just now remembering where I am and who exactly I’m sitting next to. “History.”
“That makes complete sense, as well.”
“I suppose it does.”
“You want to learn how things went in the past and then try to figure out how they’ll go in the future?”
I shake my head. Flushed, I admit, “It does seem a comforting way to look at things, but that’s not exactly how it works. Historyrhymesrather than repeats.”
“Someone got a head start on their summer reading,” he teases, though he seems impressed.
We sit in silence for a moment until Declan finds another question. “Well, is it a nice rhyme that you and I are together again on a Tuesday?”
“I’ve never seen you outside Roll Again.”
“I practically live there. I’m going to miss it.”
I remind him, “There’s still game nights when you’re home for break.”
He gets a faraway look in his eyes, like that might not be possible, before suggesting something else. “I’m sure we’ll find somewhere cool in Indy, though.”
We’llfind someplace cool. I didn’t realize how much of a relief it would be to have someone I know going to the same school as me.
Even if that someone is Declan.
I’m wrapped up in this conversation and don’t notice at first that Amelia has stepped out of the building and is looking around for me. She’s stopped to pull out her phone.
“Lee! Over here.” I don’t stand from the bench yet.
“Your sister?” Declan asks, not entirely a question, because she is so obviously related to me.
“Yeah, it’s Amelia,” I say.
“That took forever.” She rushes over. “I’m sorry you had to wait. The professor made us watch this pointless video.” Amelia nods toward Declan, her protective-older-sister persona emerging as she wonders who this dude is hanging out next to me. “But you found someone to talk to?”
It’s hard for her to see faces, so even if she would’ve recognized him—which is doubtful, because it’s been ages and at least one major growth spurt since she went to a game night—she definitely wouldn’t be able to place him out of context. I say, “Do you remember Declan Weber? He also hangs out at Roll Again Games?”
“Wow, Declan!” she says. “Your voice sounds so different. The last time I saw you, you weren’t so grown-up.”
“Okay, Mom,” I say.
She shrugs. “College makes it feel like much more time has passed.”
Declan laughs. “I’m sure. It’s nice to see you again. Iris and I were talking about how random it is to run into each other here.”
“He’s here to get his brother,” I explain.
“Do you know Grady Weber?” Declan asks.
Amelia shakes her head. “Can’t say that rings a bell.”
“He’s a year older,” Declan says, “so you might not have crossed paths.”
“You’re here to fly back with him?” Amelia asks.
“Actually, we’re driving,” Declan says. “Probably heading out later today or tomorrow.”
