Free Compass by Jeanne McDonald Page A

sense you’d dream of that. So, I take it that’s why you had the compass?”
    Alexis bent down, taking the compass back out of her bag. She twisted it around between her fingertips, watching the dial move to continually face north. “It is. I don’t know how long it’s been packed away with that yearbook, but after I found it, I couldn’t put it back in there.”
    Ryan reached out, taking the compass from her hand. He lifted it in the air, examining it in the light. “I can’t believe this thing still works.”
    “I know, right?”
    Ryan handed the compass back to Alexis who slipped it back into her wallet. He took a swig from his beer, and leaned back in his chair, dangling one arm over the backrest. Alexis crossed her legs and tried to poise herself. The mere fact they were in the same room together was better than any silly dream she could ever have.
    “So…”
    “So,” she echoed back.
    “What have you been doing with yourself for the last fifteen years? I want to know it all. School, work, family, friends...boyfriends” ─he tilted his head, his eyes narrowing─ “ girlfriends ?”
    A smile lifted the corners of her lips, and the chime of her laughter filled the air. He’d changed. Shy, boyish Ryan now had a wicked sense of humor that matched her own. She liked this side of him and it made her wonder what else had changed about him.
    She circled her finger around the rim of her glass. “No boyfriends, and I tried the girl thing but it never amounted to more than a college fling.” She peered up at him through her eyelashes.
    He slumped forward with his mouth gaped open. “You must tell me everything.”
    And she laughed again. This felt good. The conversation between them flowed with ease. She told him about her life, her friends, her patients, and her new job. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d talked that much about herself. Not that she ever minded, but Jenna was typically the center of conversation when they were together. It felt nice to have someone hanging on her every word that wasn’t a patient waiting for her to drop the bad news.
    “What hospital will you be working at?”
    Alexis folded her napkin in triangles. “Agape Medical Center in Grapevine.”
    “I take it this job’s a great opportunity for you then?” he inquired, draining the remainder of his beer.
    “It really is. The money alone is amazing and rare. Most fellowships are shitty pay.”
    “That’s why I can’t wait to make captain. Don’t get me wrong, I make decent money, but captain pay is a substantial increase.”
    “I bet. At least you don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars in school debt hanging over your head.”
    Ryan picked at the label on the bottle. “You got me there. I got a scholarship to college and what that didn’t cover was taken care of through my Air Guard Reserve pay. I had flight school paid off in no time.”
    “Smarty pants,” Alexis teased, tossing a napkin at him.
    He caught it, laughing. “As if you have room to talk. Nerd.”
    “Geek.”
    Ryan tossed the napkin aside and reached for her hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”
    Their smiles disappeared and the atmosphere around them changed. She placed her hand over his, the feel of his skin on hers was mesmerizing. His green eyes pierced hers, touching her very soul. Never in her life had she felt this with anyone but him. To have him still illicit this kind of reaction stunned her. “I’ve missed you, too,” she breathed.
    They moved in closer to one another. The warmth of his breath mingled with hers, washing over her skin. Her eyes started to drift close, anticipation coursing through her veins. She had no idea why she was allowing this to happen, but she didn’t want to stop it. All of the feelings she had as a girl rushed back, setting her whole body aflame. She knew him, even if fifteen years had passed, she still knew him. And he knew her.
    “Fisher!” Ryan jerked back. Alexis tried