Finding Our Course (Finding our Way 3)

“I think Bryce is ready for you. It took him a while to know it, and it took him losing you to know how much you mean to him.”

“Okay, Match dot com. Let’s take things slow here. I’m just getting used to being his friend again.”

She nods and drops the subject. The three of us go into almost every little shop in the village. We’re sitting in a coffee shop chatting when my phone goes crazy. Text message and email alerts sound as it rings. Quinn’s face pops up on the screen.

“Hey!”

“Have you checked your email?” she screams.

“Not in a few days, why?”

“Oh my God! Do you remember the pieces we did for World Journalism?”

“Yes.”

“Well, the professor sent us both a message about them. He wants to submit the stories and the photos to a local show. The judges will pick fifteen winners and send them on to a museum, for an exhibit, in Washington, D.C. He thinks we both have a chance at placing!”

“Are you kidding?”

“No, open your email, read it, and call me back.” She hangs up, and I scroll through my messages.

My mom and Sheila bounce excitedly in their chairs when I read the email. Apparently, the deadline is tonight, so I respond to my professor immediately with permission to enter my work and call Quinn back. She does the same.

Excitement bubbles up inside me as I realize what a big deal this could be. Photo Journalism is my dream, and an opportunity like this will be great for my resume.

The three of us are still chatting non-stop when we get back to the condo where the guys are waiting on us. My dad pops some champagne when he hears, and Nate hugs me tightly. Bryce surprises me by picking me up and spinning me around the room with his head buried in my neck. When he sets me down, the look of pride gives me chills.

We celebrate all night and even call Quinn on speakerphone so everyone can congratulate her. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, so we doubt any submission will be reviewed for at least a few days, but even being considered is awesome.

When everyone goes to bed, I lay in my room daydreaming. This vacation has turned out better than I could have imagined. My door opens slowly, and Bryce slips in quietly. Our eyes meet, and he smiles widely.

“What are you doing?”

“Coming to bed.”

“In here?”

“Yep.”

He slides in next to me and pulls me close. “I can’t sle

ep down the hall knowing you’re so close. It’s driving me crazy. You belong in my arms.”

“Bryce, what’s happening here?”

“Right now or big picture?”

“Both. I’m really confused. I told you, we’re good. We’re friends again.”

A flash of disappointment crosses his face. “Right now, we’re going to sleep. I’m going to hold you all night and sneak out in the morning. Big picture is still a little blurry. I’ll have more answers for you closer to my graduation, but the end result is you in my life. I know there’s a lot of ground to cover, and there’s a lot to do to heal your wounds, but I’m going to do it. In the end, we’ll be a lot more than friends.”

“That’s a lot of presumptions on your part. I’m a different person now, not the girl that worships the ground you walk on anymore.”

“That’s a good thing. When I looked back and realized I didn’t want a life without you, I decided it was time to worship the ground you walk on, and it’s going to be fun getting to know the new Devon. I suspect she’s a lot of the same but now with more sass.”

I stay quiet and think about all he just said. “Bryce?”

“Hmmm?”