Bryce guides me out the door,
along the damp sidewalk to
the parking lot. He stops beside
a pretty emerald green Acura,
opens the passenger door.
I’ve never ridden in some
random car before. I slip inside,
vaguely uncomfortable, as if
I’m doing something wrong.
I kind of like the feeling, though.
Bryce takes the driver’s seat, glances
my way. Penny for your thoughts.
My brain stutter must show.
How not to sound like a total
dweeb? “I was just checking out
your stereo.” True enough.
It’s a Bose. Cost a pretty penny.
Nice, huh? My brother gave it to
me for Christmas. He starts the car
and the CD player kicks in. Incubus.
Interesting information. He has
a brother. A brother with money.
I realize suddenly that I know as little
about Bryce as he does about me.
Who has the biggest surprises in store?
SURPRISE NUMBER ONE
I expect him to drive to McDonald’s
or Burger King. Instead he high-
tails it several blocks away, pulls
into a strip mall parking lot.