Page 38 of Clouded by Envy

She thought about it for a moment. “I’ll choose McDonald’s. They have great fries.”

Wes shook his head and gave a false huff. “Overly salted fries, but McDonald’s it is. You know, this two against one thing is getting out of hand already.”

“Would bringing the left-over pie cheer you up?” There was still half of the blueberry pie from yesterday left. It had tasted magical.

“You’re back on my good side for reminding me about that.” Wes grabbed the pie from the kitchen, while Bray watched his back muscles flex under his tight white shirt. It was hard for her to not stare at him when he wasn’t looking.

Before Wes and Bray could pick up Luca, they had to wait in the car line for a long time first. Bray chatted away to Wes, who mainly listened instead of doing any talking.

“What would you rather have happen: parachute not open as you fall from the sky or boat sink in the middle of an ocean with no life jacket?” she asked, propping her chin in between her thumb and index finger, tilting her head at him.

Wes’s eyebrows furrowed. “What the hell kind of question is that?”

“It’s a what if question.”

“To answer your morbid question, since I’m scared of heights, it would have to be the ocean one.”

She thought about it for a second before giving a reply. “That’s hypocritical, though.”

Shaking his head and tossing up his arms, he laughed. “How isthathypocritical?”

“The ocean itself is thousands of feet deep. So you being in the middle of the sea is the same as being high up off the ground.”

An eyebrow shot up on Wes’s forehead. “What? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. There’s still water between you and the ocean floor, so I wouldn’t be falling to my death.”

“You’re right. You would slowly be sinking to your death with unknown creatures right below your feet.” Bray held up her hands and creepily wiggled her fingers in his face.

Wes grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him, causing a gasp to escape her mouth. “Would they grab me like this?” He smiled broadly.

They stared at each other for a moment, Wes’s eyes falling from her eyes to her mouth and right back up.

The door to the backseat opened, and Wes dropped her hand as Luca entered the car. Bray cleared her throat and leaned back. “Yes, that’s exactly what they would do.”

“Hey, guys.” Luca beamed and buckled himself up.

Bray craned her neck around the seat to peer at Luca as she reached for the door handle. “Do you want to sit up front?”

“No way, you can have shotgun.” Then he tapped Wes on the shoulder. “McDonald’s?”

“McDonald’s,” Wes replied, and shot Luca a disgusted face with his tongue sticking out.

When they arrived at the park, Luca grabbed the bag of food, Wes got the drinks, and Bray carried the pie. The food had smelled so good in the car.

There was already a crowd of people at the park. Two appeared to be flying kites since the wind was blowing the right speed. They waved back and forth in the sky. As Bray found herself watching the diamond shapes, her head seemed to be swaying from side to side along with them.

Wes glanced at her and then at the sky, cocking an eyebrow upward. “You going to kite dance all day?”

“Maybe.” She found it rather calming.

“Okay, I’ll watch right along with you, but let’s eat first.” He looked at the McDonald’s bag in Luca’s hand and crinkled his nose. “Or maybe not.” Luca was already digging in and stuffing a handful of fries in his mouth, rubbing the salt and grease on the side of his shorts.

Bray fished her hand inside the bag and grabbed a fry, plopping it into her mouth as she took a seat under a large oak tree beside Wes and Luca. The thick branches were outstretched and provided the right amount of shade.

Wes pulled out his Big Mac and ate it like he had never eaten before.

“I thought you didn’t like McDonald’s?” Bray challenged.

“I don’t, but I’m ravenous.” He took another huge bite of the burger.

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