Page 11 of Barefoot Dreams
A second.
A blink and this small ball of fire is running toward the end of the counter and then straight at me, launching herself at me, and without hesitation—or any sane thought—I catch her, as my best friend’s little sister wraps both her bare legs around my waist, nearly tackling me to the ground, and my hands land on her perfectly curvy ass.
I don’t have a single moment to brace myself for the onslaught of memories that wash over me.
Dear Lord…please, don’t let it happen. Don’t let it happen.
But do you think my dick cares for any of these prayers? Fuck no, he’s become an atheist right here and fucking now and there’s not much I can do to hide the effect Julie has on me in these sweatpants.
Note to self, never wear sweatpants again.
And since I’m already on this train to hell, I decide to purchase a VIP experience and press her harder into my body, her tits crushing into my chest. And I stifle a groan.
Of course, this child of the wild isn’t wearing a bra. Why would she?
Is it hot in here? Why does my head feel dizzy? I’m not fifteen anymore. I’m not supposed to have reactions like this to a female body pressed against mine.
Only, this isn’t just any female body now, is it?
My eyes close as my nose burrows deeper into her wild mane of flaming hair, inhaling a lungful of her. Lungful of that early summer with a slight tart aftertaste.
Her. It’s so her. Just like the valley of the wildflowers she loves so much and the cherry pie. She always loved the cherry pie.
“Oh, sweet daisies, it is you!” Julie pushes away just enough to look at my face again.
I snatch that moment to greedily take in all the changes on hers. But my breath gets caught somewhere in my gut when I see the familiar freckles speckled in a random pattern over her nose and cheeks. Her skin is free from any makeup just like it always was. And her smile…that usual, bright smile is replaced by one of disbelief and shock but also warmth. The kind that seeps so deep into your bones, it can ward off any chill.
I’ve missed that smile.
God, I suddenly feel like I lived the last decade and a half in the dead of night, missing out on the sunshine and all the good there is in this world. Damn it, I’ve missed it so much. I wasn’tsupposed to. I couldn’t. But I did. Just like I stole glances at the sunrise because glances were okay… They were all I could have.
I’m not sure how long we’ve already been standing here in the middle of a busy coffee shop, but just as that thought crosses my mind it must also register in hers, because she widens her eyes, rolling those plush lips between her teeth and quietly says “Oops” as she slides off me.
Instantly, I feel the loss of her. I feel cold and empty, even though she’s standing not one foot away from me. Just for a moment, when I had her in my arms, I didn’t feel the crushing pain of my mistakes. I didn’t feel each and every failure in my life, crowding me like a storm cloud and the realization was enough to make my head spin anew.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were off fighting all the bad guys? Are you visiting your parents?”
“Um…” I clear my throat—and thoughts—again. “No, not visiting. I’m back.” And the bad guys won…no more fighting for me, but I kept that to myself.
“Permanently?” Her perfectly arched eyebrows shoot up.
“Yeah, moving back for good,” I confirm, seeing the shock on her face grow. I know why she’s so confused. Callum, Luke, and I spent every teenage year planning our escape from Loverly Cave, and when the time came, we couldn’t run fast enough.
Only, I realized too late that I was running in the wrong direction. And against the wind.
“Oh, well, that’s great then. I bet Izzy and Andrew are over the moon.”
“Understatement of the year.” I roll my eyes playfully, making Julie chuckle softly and as if she wasn’t already making my insides swim, the sound shot straight through my chest. God, I’m probably the most pathetic thirty-four-year-old right about now.
I shouldn’t be feeling like this. Not about Julie Lovinski—or anyone else for that matter. And I haven’t. For many years, I haven’t felt a shred of desire for another person.
Not since I left here. This wasn’t supposed to happen. It can’t. I’m not supposed to have those thoughts about my best friend’s little sister.
“Well, I could say give them some time, they’ll get that excitement out of their system, but we both know it’s a lie.”
Ain’t that the truth?I laughed softly.
“Yeah, that’s okay though. I owe them for all these years.” Ain’t that the truth.Again. “How’ve you been?” I ask a seemingly normal question, yet for some reason a sense of unease and discomfort creeped under my skin.
