FRIDAY'S GIRL ·ϿʘϾ·

Chapter 47

The cool afternoon breeze brushed against my face as we walked along the boardwalk of Suisun Bay. The sound of the waves hitting the stone structure was comforting, almost hypnotic. Beside me, Brad seemed distracted, his hands buried in the pockets of his jacket, his eyes lost in the shallow water.

"On my birthday, I had planned to bring you here. I wanted to show you the place I come to when I need to unplug," he said suddenly, breaking the silence.

He wasn't looking at me, but I could feel the tension in his posture. It was strange to see Brad like this, lost in thought; he always seemed so calm, balanced, and self-assured, like nothing could shake him when things got tough. But that day, he felt different. His shoulders were slightly slumped, as if he were carrying a backpack that was too heavy.

"It's really nice..." I tried to sound relaxed. We'd been living under an unspoken truce since the afternoon of his birthday, after Mrs. Pendleton had dropped us off at that small café packed with classmates from our school. His declaration of love and the subsequent kiss in front of everyone had been enough to ease my anger. I was in love with him—what else could I do but turn into a bundle of nerves with no trace of resentment or pride?

The next day, an unforgettable Sunday, we went to a concert together, and Brad made the unexpected decision to post a photo of us on Instagram. Since I wasn't recognizable in the picture, people started speculating about the identity of the girl kissing him.

The impatient honk of a car horn snapped me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. The bay remained calm, in stark contrast to my insecurities, fears, and tangled emotions.

"I used to come here as a kid. My grandpa would bring me to feed the ducks, and because I loved playing at that park over there." He pointed to a spot in the distance, where I could just make out some swings and a metal slide. "Over the years, I've come back a lot, especially when I'm nervous or have a big game coming up. I like sitting anywhere, clearing my mind, and feeding the ducks while listening to good music."

Even though he was sharing something sweet, I couldn't help but fight back a smirk.

"What's so funny?" He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Why are you looking at me with that weird expression?"

"I didn't say anything." I pressed my lips together and mimed zipping my mouth shut.

"Come on, don't be like that, Miss Storm. Spill it already." Brad raised an eyebrow, applying psychological pressure.

"Okay, fine. You asked for it. You've got habits like an eighty-year-old man," I replied, unable to hold back a laugh.

"Great! Here I am, opening up my heart, and you're calling me an old man." Pretending to be offended, he turned his back to me.

"Oh, don't be mad, please," I said, speaking in a sweet, childlike voice.

"And what will you give me to make up for it?" Brad turned back to me, his eyes lingering on my lips as he ran his tongue over his top lip.

"I've got mint candies," I said, keeping up the act as I rummaged through my bag with a pretend air of innocence.

"Mint-flavored kisses? I'm into that." He leaned toward me, waiting for me to stand on my tiptoes, making me work for it.

I didn't. Instead, I calmly unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth.

"There. All set."

"Yeah, right!" His large hands grabbed me by the waist, pulling me close against his body, and he kissed me passionately and deeply.

"I'm really glad you brought me here," I murmured, wrapping my arms around his neck and peppering his face with kisses.

"Honestly, I needed this more than ever today."