Page 70 of Break Points and Face Offs

“What do you want to see?” I ask with a defeated sigh.

“How about Atlantic City?”

I can’t stop the groan escaping.

“Atlantic City is a shit hole and a tourist trap.”

He just laughs. “Exactly—sounds like fun. You know what that is, right, Rosie?”

“I’ll go to Atlantic City with you on one condition.”

“Shoot.”

“You stop calling me Rosie.”

“Never.”

“You did it back in Boston.”

“That was for my parents.”

“I’m not driving anywhere until you agree.” I cross my arms over my chest to show him how serious I am.

“Fine. No ‘Rosie,’ just while we’re in Atlantic City.”

I allow myself to gloat from my small victory.

“It’s a shame though,” he says as I start the car. “It’s really starting to suit you better than Priestley.”

The entire drive to Atlantic City, Will’s been annoying me by reading aloud all the options for Atlantic City attractions he’s been able to find on his phone.

After shooting down his ideas of a tiki boat ride, rolling chairs, and an escape room—not a good idea—we settle on a walk on the boardwalk, an arcade, and I tentatively agree to consider mini golf and the aquarium.

“Don’t you have all this in Boston?”

“No tiki boat rides that I know of. The rest? Sure, but not all in one place.”

I roll my eyes, hoping he can see, and park the car as close to the boardwalk as I can get.

Despite telling myself I don’t care if Will has a good time while we’re here, I find myself scanning my brain for every piece of information Nathan ever told me about this place to find the activities Will might enjoy. I admittedly wasn’t listening very hard when Nathan talked about his childhood and going on rides and eating inedible hot dogs. But Will doesn’t look bored as we take a walk down the boardwalk. He looks at everything with keen interest while I walk beside him, feeling awkward. He still consults his phone as he walks, saying stupid things like “I wanna see Lucy the Elephant.”

“Come on, Priestley,” he says. I’m starting to regret telling him he couldn’t call me Rosie. Something about Priestley feels too familiar now. Or not familiar enough?

“You’ve gotta admit, it’s kinda pretty.”

He gestures to the beach on our right. The setting sun is red and pregnant behind a wisp of clouds. If there weren’t so many people around, it may even be peaceful.

“I suppose.”

He nudges me with his shoulder and shakes his head with a soft laugh.

We duck into an arcade. There’s a cacophony of sounds. The bright lights of games disorienting in the windowless building.

I should be annoyed by it all. I like peace and quiet … order. But walking next to Will while he drags me along makes me almost giddy.

“What’s your favorite arcade game?” he asks.

“Huh?”