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She blinked and smiled before waving goodbye.
I unlocked my car and settled myself inside, warming it up for a few minutes before entering Noa’s address in the GPS and backing out. Fifteen minutes later, I got out of the car and headed up toward the apartment building in front of me. I made it as far as the front steps when the door swung open and she stepped out.
The light blue halo of her hair made her look like an angel. I didn’t notice the piercings down her one ear until she tucked her hair behind it. She smiled and I smiled back. I opened my mouth to greet her, but she spoke first.
“You’re one of those guys who thinks he should come up, huh?”
Her question caught me off-guard.
“I mean, shouldn’t I? It’s polite. Honking the horn isn’t what girls like, is it?”
Great. Now I sound like I have no idea what I’m doing.
She chuckled. “I don’t mind it too much, but a text saying you’re outside will suffice, Dexter.”
“So, you know my name,” I said, grinning as I unlocked my car.
She smiled when I opened her door. “Everyone knows Dexter Andrews,” she said before ducking to sit in the passenger seat.
I didn’t know how to take that, so I got in the car and started it.
“Actually,” she said, turning to me, “do you mind if we walk? It’s maybe fifteen minutes on foot, and it’s weird but I love walking. Clears my mind.”
I shrugged, pulled the keys from the ignition, and stepped out. I went to open her door, but she’d already gotten out. I locked the doors and stood beside her, waiting for her cue to move.
“Oh, I forgot about your leg! Can you make the walk? We can totally—”
“It’s fine. I’m actually pretty okay now.” I didn’t know how true that was, but we were about to find out.
She took the first steps and, of course, I followed. It was nice, walking beside Noa, who seemed to be in love with the night sky.
Her eyes took in the stars and she sighed wistfully. “Ever wonder what’s out there?”
We were walking slowly enough that I didn’t feel any discomfort, and I could look at her without worrying about running into anything. “In space?” I looked up.
“The universe. It’s so boring when people say aliens. That’s what the rest of the world wants you to think.” She rubbed her gloved hands together and shoved them into her coat pockets.
“What do you think is out there?” I asked.
“I don’t know. But, when I look out, I think it can’t be something as mundane as aliens. It can’t be what everyone else thinks. It’s too beautiful, too massive. A real-life miracle.”
I nodded, afraid to say anything and break her spell. The wonder in her eyes was hypnotizing.
“I wasn’t going to give you my number, you know.” Her words came out of nowhere, but I was quickly realizing just how fast her mind worked and how often she said just what was on it.
I was coming to adore it already.
“Why not?” I asked, looking at her again.
“Have you ever made a decision and seen your future flash before you? It’s like the opposite of what people think happens before you die. Like memories you have yet to make,” she told me.
I tried not to chuckle, a smile playing on my lips. “Actually, that’s exactly how I felt when I bumped into you.” If she opened this door, I was willing to follow her through it. But I couldn’t force her to see me. She’d have to open her eyes to us on her own. I made that deal with myself in that moment, waiting for her to react to my confession.
She looked at me in surprise. “Huh. Well, that’s why I didn’t want to give you my number.”
“I don’t get it. Explain it to me?”
“I’m not that good at this. Not good with people. I do the loner thing best, which is probably why this is the first time I’ve ever really hung out with anyone one-on-one. It’s easier to hide in a group. But right now, I feel like you can see me,” she said.
