Page 52 of Free Fall

I think this feeling is what they call hope.

Weird.

CHAPTER TEN

Sejin

Leenie watches mepacing by the window for a few seconds and then goes back to getting pajamas on Jeremiah. Sarah Kate’s been in bed for the last hour and a half, and Martin’s out back mowing the lawn before the last of the light disappears.

“Is he late?” she asks, when she obviously can’t stand to see me wearing a tread into her wood floor any longer.

“Not really. He said sunset, and the sun’s not technically set yet.” I glance at my phone for the official time the sun will disappear behind the horizon. “Another six minutes, I guess, and then he’ll be late.”

“Sejinie?” Jeremiah asks, as Leenie works his feet into the footed pajamas.

“Yeah, buddy?”

“Why are you nervous?” He can’t quite pronounce the word yet, so it sounds like nuhbof, and it’s adorable.

“Because…” How can I explain everything buzzing around inside me to a four-year-old? “I’m excited,” I say instead. “I hope I’m going to have fun, but I’m not sure if I will. Like when you went swimming for the first time. Remember? You were scared, but also excited.”

“Right. Are you going swimming on your date? Don’t worry, Sejinie, just hold your breath real good when you’re underwater, okay?”

I smile. “I’m not sure where we’re going actually. It’s a surprise for me.”

“A surprise!” His eyes light up, and he jerks free from Leenie’s embrace. “I love surprises! Can I go too?”

“No,” Leenie breaks it to him. “This is a surprise only for Sejin.”

His shoulders slump and just as his lower lip begins to wobble, there’s the sound of a motorcycle coming down the road at an alarming speed, louder even than Martin’s mower in the back. I glance out the window and see the bike pull into the driveway in a spray of gravel and dust. Sweat breaks out over my brow. Holy smokes.

It’s Dan. And he’s here for me.

“Oh, wow,” Leenie says, picking up Jeremiah and peering past me. “You gonna be alright on that thing?”

My hand shakes a little as I push it into my pocket to bring out a hairband. I’d left my hair loose for the date, but I’ll definitely need to put it back if I’m expected to ride on that. My pulse pounds. I’ve never been on a motorcycle before. Do I trust Dan to be safe? Where did he even get it?

I watch as he tugs his helmet free and shakes out his short, curly hair. Leenie lets out a little sound and then says, “Oh, I see. He’s strange looking, but also… damn.”

“Wide-set eyes,” I murmur.

“Sexy way of holding himself,” she adds. And I guess it’s true. I’ve always been so captivated by his face when his clothes are on that I hadn’t entirely noticed that.

Dan looks toward the window like he knows we’re in here staring out at him, and he smiles in that way where the lower half of his face transforms into a startling slash of white. He starts up the sidewalk to the front door.

Leenie moves out of my way as I go to throw it open before he can ring the bell.

Jeremiah squirms out of Leenie’s arms, rushing out and toward Dan, who stares down at him like an alien has just burst onto his path.

“Can I ride?” Jeremiah asks, taking hold of Dan’s hand like he’s known him forever.

Jeremiah’s never met a stranger.

To his credit, though, Dan doesn’t pull away. He simply crouches down, gives Jeremiah a serious look and tells him, “Sorry, kiddo, but the bike is for grown-ups only.”

Leenie moves past me and scoops Jeremiah up, saying, “Sorry! He thinks everyone is his pal these days. We gotta work on the concept of stranger-danger. Uh, not that you’re a danger. I mean—” She blows hair out of her face and then redirects herself. “Hi, I’m Leenie.”

“Dan,” he says, offering his hand.