When Colin set the five albums he’d selected as starters on the counter—two of Benny Goodman, two of Billie Holiday, and one of Keith Jarrett—the salesman said, “The man knows his music.”
“Not even a little bit,” Colin replied, warmed by how he was now seen. Theman. He hoped it was not just because of the money he spent. He didn’t think so. “But I want to learn.”
Liam watched him sign the receipt, checked the signature, said, “We can arrange the technician to set you up sometime next week.”
“Tuesday and Thursday and Saturday all work,” Colin replied. “Classes start next week. The other days are out.”
“Where do you go to school?”
“UNCW.”
“Get out.”
“But I live at Outer Banks Academy. That’s where I studied before.”
“Outer Banks Academy, that’s what, a school?”
“Sort of.” Colin watched him slip the albums into a bag. “Thanks a lot. This has been fun.”
CHAPTER35
Two weeks into the winter term, Colin purchased a Trek FX hybrid bike with flat-bar handles and Shimano drive-train and disc brakes. With Roland’s assistance, he also attended a series of driver’s ed tutorials with a private instructor. Once he had his official DMV learner’s permit, he joined Roland and Celeste at family court so his attorney could request a special dispensation allowing Colin to obtain a full driver’s license seven months early. The judge clearly knew both Roland and Celeste, and in Colin’s mind had already accepted the reasoning as valid. Just the same, the procedure took over an hour, and the judge insisted on Colin taking the stand.
Sitting the driver’s test and obtaining his full license only happened because Roland pulled strings and then escorted him to the after-hours exam, which was handled personally by the DMV’s manager.
The following Saturday, Mira took him car shopping.
She and Lucas were back to take part in a family wedding. Her gaiety over spending a weekend with her beau seemedforced to Colin, but he knew better than to ask questions. What she wanted him to know, she would tell him. And apparently Mira didn’t want him to know anything at all.
During her months away Colin thought she had matured in numerous subtle ways. Her gaze seemed deeper, her mannerisms more womanly. Colin thought she was growing into the most beautiful lady he had ever seen, and said so.
Even her response to this was different. “You know what they say about beauty being only skin deep.”
“Not with you,” he replied. “Not ever.”
She stopped for a light and gazed at him. “You are still my second best friend.”
But the words threatened tears. He could see the effort required to crimp her face tight, blink fiercely, and move through the green light. Colin watched them pass their destination and ventured, “You’ve gone too far.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Mira, the dealership is vanishing in your rearview mirror.”
“Oh, pooh.” She was recovered now, and smiling. “You don’t want some boring old Buick.”
“Mira …” He watched her pull into the Porsche dealership on New Center Drive. “What are we doing here?”
“What you said, silly.” She did not rise from her Volkswagen so much as bound. “Buying you some wheels.”
It was so nice seeing her resume the joyful near-dance that had defined their early times together. A cluster of salesmen inside the glass-fronted showroom watched her skip over to a cobalt blue Macan GTS, where she announced, “Colin Eames, meet the new love of your life.”
“Mira, no.”
“Why? Don’t you absolutely love this?”
“For you, maybe. For me, never. Not in a million years.”
“How did you possibly age into a boring old fuddy-duddy while I was away?”