Leap Of Faith

Chapter Fourteen

[photo by Raymond Kotewicz from Unsplash]

Leni

I'm still in a foul mood when I leave the aquarium, but the massive bank of storm clouds that escorted me here—in what felt like solidarity—have nearly dispersed. By the time I arrive in Nags Head, happy rays of late-day sun are highlighting the massive, beachfront house wearing Topher's street number.

I drag myself up the wide stairs trying to ignore how perfect it is: the generous covered porch, the color—a sun-warmed grey with white trim and driftwood shingle accents. And the location, obviously. It's on the southern edge of Nags Head, practically in Manteo. Topher lives closer to the aquarium than I do.

His entrance needs a little help, though. There should be a welcome mat, huge flower pots flanking the front door—and a porch swing with pillows the color of sea foam.

I groan. I sound like my sister.

Dee, who I lied to this morning by way of a sticky note left on the fridge. I didn't need to work today—there was no "situation" with the pregnant otter. Sally is perfectly healthy and not due for another few weeks. But if I'd stayed home there would've been a relentless barrage of questions I'm not ready to answer.

It's not like I didn't try to tell Topher—and I genuinely believed I was getting my point across. When I said dating isn't a priority for me, it seemed like he understood. It wasn't until I took myself back, trying to reevaluate the evening from his perspective, that I realized my mistake. Actions speak louder than words.

That mortifying moment comes back to me, yet again—and I press my hot face into my cool hands. Topher asked a question after he felt "compelled" to tell me I was being seductive. Only he didn't pose it as a question and so I missed it.

"I will follow your lead."

Translation: Are you trying to seduce me?

The answer is no, of course. I don't know how—have never had a reason to want to know how to seduce anyone. I just wanted to share something of myself with him. He was so open and honest and...

Interested.

Now Dee's proclamation will not be ignored: "He sure doesn't look at you like y'all are related."

No, he surely does not. To Topher, last night was probably our first official date. My first date ever. No wonder he was dumbfounded by my lack of experience—and confused by my accidental seduction. And I was so flustered by it all, I didn't have the mental bandwidth to ask who he wants me to meet—another reason I'm avoiding my sister. Dee would be beyond appalled. She likes Topher, but she wouldn't be okay with me trusting him like this. She'd start ranting about scientists and lab tables and finish with, "You could be walking into a trap!"

I'm not. I know that in a way I can't explain—not to Dee or to myself.

The question I lost sleep over is: who does Topher want me to meet? I spent half the night talking myself in and out of hoping that the someone might be a member of his family.

The front door opens and my heart does a little lurch.

"Sorry," Topher says. "I didn't mean to startle you. I was waiting for you to knock and when you didn't I thought..." Judging by his lined forehead, Topher doesn't know what to think about me sulking on his front porch for God knows how long. "Are you ready to come in now?"

"Um, yeah. I guess I'm the one who should say..."

Whoa. I can't finish my apology because I'm drawn, with a force that defies common courtesy, to a wall of windows. At a distance it's all shades of blue, vast ocean and endless sky. But there's also a generous deck with steps descending to a private walkway, direct access to the beach. "This is incredible," I say, turning to him.