Page 21 of Griffin
Stella walked over to an ice chest and dug out two beers. "There are snacks in the front room, but you may have to elbow my brother out of the way. He tends to take over the snack table."
"Yeah, he's not talking to me," Fin said.
Stella licked fruit punch off her fingertip. "What's the grump's problem now?"
"He still wants me to help him put a roof on their house, and because I enjoy not being in the hospital with a broken neck, I still said no."
Stella sighed. "As stubborn as he is big." She smiled at Shay. "It's my mom's favorite saying, and since I had to share the womb with the guy, I heartily agree."
The music suddenly got louder. "I told you guys if it gets too loud the neighbors will call the cops," Stella yelled out to the front room. It was turned slightly down. "I think they're getting the firepit going and"—Stella waved at a pile of marshmallows on the counter—"There was only one box of graham crackers and one box of chocolate bars. I had each job parceled out, but everyone decided to just bring marshmallows, so if you want the entire s'more, you'd better have one soon."
I looked at Shay. She nodded. "I don't remember the last time I had a s'more."
Stella clapped. "Then get yourselves set up. There are paper plates under the marshmallows."
Shay and I set crackers and chocolate bars on two plates and poked four plump marshmallows on two roasting sticks. We headed toward the long stream of aromatic smoke curling up from the firepit. A slight breeze was carrying it off toward the north along with a few red embers. We sat on the south side of the pit to avoid the smoke. Cut logs were arranged as benches in a circle around a pit made of cinderblocks and bricks. Most everyone was inside or watching the skaters, so for the time being, Shay and I had the fire to ourselves.
She sat close to me, and I told myself it made sense because it was chilly out on the sand. "Your cousin is gorgeous," she said. "And was that your sister, Jules, sitting with you when I walked up? I recognized her from the pictures on the wall behind your dad's desk. She's incredible too."
"Yeah, that was Jules. And the guy next to me with shaggy, dark hair was my cousin and roommate, Crusoe."
"How many cousins and siblings?" she asked.
"Five cousins and Jules is my only sibling." We stuck the marshmallows into the flames. "I'm glad you came, Shay."
"Me too. I was about to settle into a long night of old movies and pumpkin muffins, but I decided to join the land of the living for a change. It's not something I do often." She said the last part so quietly I almost couldn't hear her over the crackling fire.
"Oh!" she gasped and pulled her fiery marshmallow free to blow out the flames.
"Do you want some new marshmallows? Seemed like there were a few extra."
She looked at me. "Uh, excuse me, but are you one of those steady and golden marshmallow types? I like them charred and gooey."
"Oh well, excuse me. My mistake." I pulled mine free to blow on it. "Guess I'm a charred marshmallow person too." We stared at the flames, watching as they lapped at our roasting sticks. "So, he's gone?" I asked.
She sighed quietly. "Supposed to be gone for two weeks. His schedule can change, so I don't count on it, but I never waste a moment thinking about him when he's away. It's as if he doesn't exist."
We each smashed two very charred marshmallows between crackers and chocolate and laughed about trying to eat them with dignity. They were a sticky, tasty mess.
Word got around that there was a limited amount of chocolate and graham crackers, so by the time we pushed the last sticky bits into our mouths, more people had joined us at the firepit with their roasting sticks. I realized then, I wasn't in the party mood. I was in the mood to get to know Shay better. I was sure there were plenty of layers underneath the beautiful exterior, and I wanted to know all of them.
"Interested in a walk on the beach?" I asked.
"Absolutely."
It was a cool night but not so harsh as to require a coat. "Glad I opted for my thickest sweater," she said.
"Is it too cold?" I asked.
"No, it's refreshing. I love it. And those thin wispy clouds in that dark sky—" She looked over at me as we made our way across the sand toward the water. "It's a perfect night for a walk on the beach." She winced and reached back to rub her hamstring. "I'm going to regret my morning when I wake up tomorrow."
"Your morning? Did you go for a run?"
She shook her head and stared out at the water. I already had her perfect profile memorized, the turned-up nose, the full lips and small chin, the dimple on her cheek.
"I pulled out my ballet slippers. I hadn't put them on for—" Her face dropped, and she kicked up some of the sand as she walked. "Not for a very long time."
"Ballet slippers?" I turned toward her and took some side steps. "So, you're telling me I'm out strolling the beach with a real live ballerina. Oh man, that is hot."
