Page 24 of Barefoot Dreams
I send a million curses to the universe. Really? You hate me that much? Does it look like I want to spend an evening in the company of her Viking?
“Drawing,” the guy throws back without looking.
“Another duck?” Alec’s voice sounds exasperated and that’s when I notice quite a few rubber duck drawings all over the parlor. However, I must admit some of them look badass or plain hilarious like the one hugging a sexy pinup girl.
“Please tell me that’s not a permanent marker,” Alec says, and this time Jacob turns with a wicked smile on his face, giving him all the answer he needed. “That’s it, I’m really going to kill you this time. But later, after we save my other friend over here. Actually, after the shit you keep pulling here, I might make him my main best friend.” Alec stomps his foot.
Like, actually stomps his foot.
“No, you won’t.” The Viking throws him a taunting smile and all I can think about is these two are like children on a playground. Before I can get all pissy about this guy being friends with Alec—because yes, apparently I’m a child too now—he says, “Hey, Griff.”
“Um, how do you know my name?” I frown.
“Julie-bean told me the other day after you ran out of her shop like your ass was on fire,” he says calmly, finishing the drawing of a huge duck with a tattoo gun in his wing and gets up from the floor.
The dude is seriously huge, well over six feet and broad but the mention of my Julie makes that stupid feeling in my stomach stir anew.
Fucking hell…I should just go, before I get myself in trouble.
“Look at this baby and tell me you’re not in love with this piece.” He looks to Alec, who sighs.
“Fine, fine, this one is sick.”
“See.” He waggles his eyebrows. “My duckies are irresistible. Just watch all the girls come through and fall in love with us just because we have cute ducks all over the place.”
Alec scratches his chin in consideration. “Fuck, I think you’re right. Remember that one chick the other day, the tourist? She was totally digging in.”
“Yeah, she was diggingmewith my hair flip.”
“You and your fucking hair flip.” Alec shakes his head, and I have a distinct impression that I’m intruding over here.
There’s also a tiny seed of longing for my own friend who I could’ve joked around with any time. But that won’t ever happen again. Because Caleb won’t ever laugh at my jokes again.
I throw my thumb back. “I think I’m actually going to head—” I start but the Viking interrupts me.
“I’m Jacob, by the way.”
“Oh, Jacob, right. Okay, good to meet you?” Why does that sound like a question?
“You’re not heading anywhere without us,” Alec tells me and then turns to Jacob. “Come on, we are going to LPs. Griffin here needs to unload.”
“Heck yes! I love therapy sessions at LPs.” Jacob claps his hands with an excited smile on his face.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I tell them both.
“Why not?” Alec frowns.
Yeah, why not? Because you are jealous Jacob is the one who holds her heart? Ridiculous, man, fucking ridiculous.
“Griff, you are not running away from us.” Jacob steps up, slapping a hand over my shoulder. “Don’t worry, this here”—he motions between us three—“is a safe space. Whatever you need to talk about, it will stay in the circle of trust, okay?”
“Um…”
“Dude, he won’t let you leave now that he knows you need a therapy session.” Alec shakes his head. “Best to just go with it or he’ll come all the way to your house with you.”
“You guys are so weird.”
“Thank you!” Jacob beams at me like I just paid him an honest-to-God compliment.
