Page 22 of Barefoot Dreams
“He sure is handsome.” The lady—Jenny—smiles and I decide I like her better than the rest of the crazies. She must not have lived here for too long yet.
“I’m Jenny Levine. I moved here with my husband, Rick, a few years ago.” She introduces herself, her short blonde hair bouncing with each move she makes. Her smiles are broad and genuine.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Oh, aren’t you a gentleman.” She smiles coyly.
“That he is,” Mom answers proudly, still selling me as her prized possession to anyone who’s willing to bid. “Don’t you have three daughters, Jenny?”
“I do!” Jenny’s smile widens.
Okay, so maybe my assumption that she’s normal was made in too much of a haste…
“Mom,” I groan. “Can you not, please?”
“Hush, Mama knows best.” She waves me off, and from the corner of my eye I see Dad giving me a slight shake of his head.Let it go, his look says.Let the rivers flow. Don't ask how I know what he'd say…don't ask.
Before they can plan my wedding to one of Jenny’s daughters, I hear my name, and when I turn to the right, I catch Alec standing not too far away from us, his eyes as wide as is his smile.
“Oh, man, is that really you?” he asks, jogging up to us. His mop of brown, slightly curly hair dancing in the chilly wind, but despite it, he’s wearing a cut-off tank top that shows off his tattoos and shorts.
And I’ve never been happier to see him.
“Hey!” I embrace him, slapping his back a few times as soon as he gets close enough. It was nice to see him that day at the workout but it’s even better now when I can properly talk to him.
“Jesus, I didn’t think I’d see the day.” He grins and then winks at the ladies behind me. “Miss Isabella, Miss Jenny, seeing you beauties has made my day that much better.”
“What am I?” Dad throws out in mock offense. “Chopped liver?”
“Ah,” Alec clasps a hand over his heart. “Never speak like that of my favorite uncle in the whole wide world.”
“Such a sweet talker you are, Alec.” Jenny giggles. “She’ll love it,” she adds so quietly I'm not sure she meant to say it out loud at all.
“Who will?” He frowns slightly, tilting his head in question.
“Oh, your mother, of course,” she answers quickly, and when Alec naively relaxes, Jenny sends me a wink that is surely meant to be a secret.
A secret with a double meaning. Oh no…
I start shaking my head, petrified to be associated with any of their crazy love schemes but before I can say anything, my mom sends a warning jab into my side. I nearly buckle from the force, while my petite mother looks like a serene angel. Like she didn't just take out one of my lower ribs.
Yeah, I’m definitely sending her number to my captain.
And I’m definitely in on a Love Hive scheme already. Great.
Back in the day, the locals were always plotting something—usually setting two people up together—on the town-wide chat. It was absolutely crazy…and looks like the tradition is still alive.
“Yep, make sure to tell her she raised me right! She loves hearing that, especially since her other offspring didn’t turn out as great.” I’m still rubbing the side where Mom jabbed me but now I’m also rolling my lips to hide a small smile.
Man, I’d pay good money for Luke to hear this right now.
I guess Alec is still pissed at him for leaving the way he did.
“Alec,” Jenny chastises him but still with an easy expression like she had to do it one too many times already.
“I know, I know.” He raises his hands up. “No talking smack about that asshole.”
“You’re incorrigible.” she huffs out a laugh, shaking her head at the same time as Alec shifts his attention back to me.
