by Shayn Bloom
dared. Choosing a light, sleeveless summer top with Indian lace around its neck, I threw on jeans and ran downstairs. I was only just in time. I opened the door right as he was about to knock.
“Hey,” Ash said.
“Hi,” I breathed.
“I brought the textbook and my notes,” he said. “Or we could just…” Ash trailed, gazing around the cave. “Hang out.” I welcomed him inside. Shutting the door, I found myself already in his arms. “Y’know,” he said, cradling my chuckling form. “I’ve been thinking we should become more official.”
“What?” But I had heard him.
“You heard me,” he said. “Are your parents here?”
“Just Dad.”
Ash nodded. “I should meet him.”
Tempting though it was to steal Ash upstairs, creating a good first impression was also important. Leading Ash, I walked through the cave and into the kitchen. Introducing your boyfriend to your father is always awkward. This is true because the roles of father and boyfriend overlap far more than that of mother and girlfriend.
Regardless, Ash was fabulous. Walking directly to Dad, he offered his hand confidently. “Hi,” he said. “I’m Ash.”
Dad folded his newspaper away before inspecting Ash over the top of his glasses. He extended his hand. “Hi, Ash. I’m Martin.”
I inserted myself before things could get awkward. “Dad’s just been named the new Chair of the psych department at Hopkins.”
“Whoa,” Ash said. “Congratulations.”
“We knew this was coming,” Dad said. “It was just a matter of when.”
Glimpsing my chocolate lab under the table, I bent down on my knees. “Come out, Oscar!”
Ash slapped his side with gusto. “Here boy!”
“Oscar’s not giving into peer pressure,” Dad said. “I can respect that. Start walking and then call him. He will follow.”
“Good idea,” I said, heading for the cave. “We’re going to study,” I added strategically, curious to find out whether or not I was lying. “We’ve got an exam on Monday in Dr. Arrowheart’s class.”
“Ash,” Dad said, halting our progress from the room. “Annie’s probably already told you but we’re having guests for dinner later and you’re one of them.”
“She didn’t tell me,” Ash said cheekily. “But I’m glad you did!”
Oscar followed Ash and I up the staircase. In my room, all three of us alighted on my bed. My dog padded over to the section with wall so he could lie against it. Ash tossed his materials across my sheets in disarray.
I hid my smile. “Is that how you begin studying?”
“Usually,” he replied. Reaching into the pile, Ash handed me several pages that were clipped together.
“What’s this?” I asked.
He grinned. “Adia’s exam.”
“You’re kidding.” But I was already smiling.
“It’s filled out and everything,” he remarked. “Compliments of Todd Arrowheart!”
“Nice move!” I breathed.
“So now that we’re finished studying,” Ash said. “We’re liberated to engage in other activities!”
“Yay!” I exclaimed.
Even Oscar drooled happily on my sheets.
Kicking off his sandals, Ash relaxed onto my bed. His honeyed skin was already massaging my consciousness and a refreshing summer breeze from the open window ruffled his dirty blonde hair. Ash stared upward at my dreamcatcher. “I forgot how beautiful that is.”
“I know,” I said, staring at Ash. “Oh, I wanted to tell you something.” I opened my mouth. And then I closed it. I couldn’t do it. I loved him and yet I couldn’t just say it like that.
“Yeah?” Ash pushed.
I stammered. “I, uh…”
“Spit it out.”
“I want to be a Dreamdrifter!” I exclaimed.
He stared at me. Hazel eyes would not leave me and so I left them. Neither of us spoke for a moment. Ash’s tone was shocked when he did speak. “But why?”
“It’s my calling,” I whispered. “I know it is.”
“How do you know it?” Ash asked.
“I’ve always wanted to help people,” I explained. “I told you that on the day we met.”
“I remember,” Ash said. “But you wouldn’t tell me why you wanted to help people.”
“Not immediately,” I said. “But I told you later.”
“Because of Alexi?”
I nodded. “It was incredible, the look on Josephine’s face when you gave her that flower. It was like she, she –”
“Was reborn?” Ash offered. I nodded again. “And you think,” Ash began, watching me carefully. “That you could…”
“I know it,” I whispered. “I know that I could, but I’d need your help.” Taking his hand from the bed, I squeezed it. “Will you teach me? Instruct me so that I can become a Dreamdrifter?”
Ash looked hesitant. “I don’t know, Annie,” he said. “There’s more going on than you know.”
“Ash,” I whispered, squeezing his hand again. “I want to be a Dreamdrifter. I have to become a Dreamdrifter now that I know, now that I’ve experienced the subconscious mind. I was meant for this, Ash. I just know it.”
He gazed into my eyes, his own wide. “Alright,” Ash whispered. “Though I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Yes!” I celebrated. “So when do I graduate?”
He couldn’t help but smile. “I will tell you. Are you ready for it?”
Foreboding settled upon me. “I suppose.”
“You graduate when I say so!” Ash exclaimed.
I grabbed my pillow. “You!” I said loudly. “Are!” I lifted the pillow into the air. “Such!” I brought it down over his face, smothering him. “A goofball!” I finished, collapsing on the bed beside him. Breathing hard, I smiled at him from the pillow. “So where are we, Ash?”
“Seriously?” Ash asked. “That conversation?”
“You started it,” I accused. “Downstairs in the cave, remember? You said we should become official.”
Ash ignored my incriminating detail. “What does your dad think I am?”
My tone was guilty. “He thinks you’re my boyfriend.”
“That’s interesting,” Ash said. “Why would your dad think that?”
I looked appropriately sheepish. “I sort of implied that you were…”
“Your boyfriend?” Ash finished.
“Kind of,” I admitted. “Was I wrong?”
“You tell me,” he said.
“I think we’d be a fantastic couple,” I encouraged. “We are there. We’ve been there for awhile. I’ve been feeling it for awhile…”
“Feeling what?” Ash asked.
I said it before I could stop myself. “Love.”
“Love?” Ash didn’t allow his expression to run away from him. He kept it under control. “How long have you been feeling it?”
“For a while,” I admitted. “Are you surprised?”
Ash considered me. “Yes,” he said. “Because I thought it was only me.”
“Only you?” I repeated, confused.
“Yes.”
“Ash, what –”
“Love,” he whispered. “Somehow, I thought it was just me, and here you are saying it’s not…”
“Ash, I don’t –”
“Annie,” he interrupted loudly. “I love you.” His eyes were alight with hazel fires. “And that makes you my girlfriend.”
Ash’s honeyed face was glazed with contentment and wreathed in gold as he smiled from the pillow, his dirty blonde hair a glorious mess. The heat of his body was incredible beside me. His scent was awakening my nether regions as thick, muscular arms encircled me in their embrace like the hoop of a dreamcatcher.
I surrendered first to myself and then to him.
Later, we went downstairs.
“There you two are,” Dad said. “I was about to yell up. We’re having ribs,” he added happily. “They’re already on the grill! Jon and
Lin are hanging with Oscar on the patio. Annie, make sure you introduce Ash.”
I decided to start with Mom. She was sitting at the kitchen table. “Mom,” I began ceremonially. “This is my boyfriend, Ash.”
“Hi,” Ash said, shaking her hand. “It’s good to meet you.”
“Sarah,” Mom said, returning the gesture. “You’re in Annie’s psych class, aren’t you?”
Ash nodded. “That’s where we met!”
“Come on, Ash,” I coaxed. “The others are outside.”
“Hold up you two,” Dad said. “Annie, get the dressing from the fridge and napkins. Ash, if you’d grab the salad I’d appreciate it.”
The evening sun serenaded our journey to the patio. The lawn cascading down to the vegetable garden was dappled in lengthening shadows, the grill burning away merrily, and the smell of sizzling ribs making Oscar drool.
Linford Divion and Jonathan Boliers were seated around the patio table. They had been conversing in quiet tones, but stopped when they saw me and Ash depart the kitchen with our hands full.
Boliers spread his arms. “Long time no see!”
I grinned. “How’s Hopkins, Dr. Boliers?”
“Still there, I think,” he chuckled. “Who’s your handsome friend?”
“This is Ash,” I introduced. “My boyfriend. Ash, this is Dr. Boliers, our family friend and doctor.” Boliers stood to shake Ash’s hand before reclaiming his seat. “And you already know Dr. Divion.”
Mom and Dad came pouring out of the kitchen, their hands full of plates and silverware. Dad had a bottle of wine under one arm. “Sauvignon Blanc,” he said, placing the bottle on the table. “From the Loire Valley of New Zealand. There’s five more bottles so don’t just be a’sippin!”
“Hear! Hear!” Boliers cried.
Dinner was served. Everyone stood and crowded around the grill for their servings. The whole affair was informal and I preferred it that way. I added ketchup to my ribs as always. They
