I am convinced he is considering the same thing when he suddenly reaches over and touches my face, but I soon realize he is just wiping something off my cheek.

“Had a little bit of ice cream,” he says. “Another thing I was thinking, from our previous conversation,” he continues, “I figured out now ‘how to make it right.’ You have to be an ally,” he says, more for himself than me. “That’s what I’m committing to doing in my life. That and being the best Christian I can. If this is a world where some of us have more privilege than others, and I’m one of those people, then I want to use my energy and time putting that privilege in the service of others. That’s how you ‘make it right.’”

I dissolve. He is truly just an amazing person and he doesn’t even realize it. I want him to be mine. I don’t want to lie anymore. I want to drop the act right here and now and show him who I really am, a pagan with a good heart. I want to meet him in Rumi’s field, out beyond expectations, lies, masks, and even religion.

“Do you like Rumi?” I ask, changing the subject. “I’ve been thinking about how nice it would be to experience the world as he did, to visit his prophetic field beyond labels and ideas. I mean—”

I hesitate. Trying to work up the nerve to be honest with him about me not really being a Christian and tell him how much I like him.

“It would be nice if we could all meet each other there—”

“I’ll totally meet you there!” Bryce interjects enthusiastically. He’s smiling now, from cheek to cheek, like I was at Ladles. “I’ll be the one ‘chewing a piece of sugarcane, in love with the one to whom every that belongs.’”

A man that can quote Rumi. I am in love.

“I have to tell you something,” he says, hesitating just like in my dream. I explode inside. I want to do imaginary cartwheels all over the Green. I smile radiantly, preparing for his love confession. I am a psychic goddess. Behold my powers. “I’m glad I met you, Echo Brown,” he says proudly. “You’re a really special person.” I wait for more, but he just looks off lamely into the distance. What does that mean?! Is he playing hard to get?