Page 27 of Barefoot Dreams
Okay, four-five is…not ideal but it’s not a month long relationship either.
“Okay, the real question is, how into him is she?”
“Are you two doing this on-fucking-purpose?” I grit through clenched teeth.
“Doing what?” the double-trouble committee asks in unison, batting their lashes like clueless schoolgirls on playground.
“Not saying who this guy actually is.”
“Oh, thank God you finally asked.” Jacob exhales dramatically once again while shooting me a knowing smirk. The asshole was totally doing it on purpose. “He’s name is Owen.”
Owen…
I blink. Just blink and blink and blink some more.
“Is he okay?” I hear Alec ask as he waves a hand in front of me.
“Shit, who’s giving him mouth to mouth when he faints?”
“You two share a common denominator. You can kiss him.”
“Who?”
“Julie!”
“Don’t you and him share Luke?”
“Yeah, no. Not even close.”
“She’s dating fucking Owen? The Owen who bullied her all through elementary, middle,andhigh school? That fucking Owen?” The blinking ceases as my emotions take over, and apparently they are not subtle at the least because everyone is staring at us.
“Did you just say he bullied her?” Jacob’s whole presence loses that carefree, happy-go-lucky attitude as a menacing look overtakes his features, his voice grows eerily dangerous, and I’m hit with the realization that there’s a side to this guy he doesn’t show anyone. Jacob is not at all what he seems but now is not the time to dive into his issues when mine are growing like a festering wound without antibiotics.
Soon enough, I’ll be losing some limbs.
There’s no way my Julie is dating that asshole. No fucking way.
Alec clears his throat. “Um, as far as I know there’s only one Owen in this town, believe it or not. So I’m pretty sure it’s exactly the guy you’re thinking of.”
I go back to blinking as the rest of the bar settles back into their seats and conversations.
“Owen was a fucking piece of shit to Julie. This must be a mistake.” I shake my head.
“Blonde, gym-head but with that preppy look?” Jacob directs the question at me, but it’s Alec who nods.
“Yeah, that’s Owen all right. Maybe he changed?” Alec sounds pathetically hopeful.
There’s rage inside me that I can’t contain.
Why? Why him? She deserves the world and she got him?
Does Cal know about it? Doubt it or he’d be on the next flight here.
But what right do I have to tell Julie who she can and cannot date. What right do I have to even get pissed about her date choice. Maybe he has changed. Maybe they are going to be like those couples from romance novels where the bully and his victim fall hopelessly in love.
Maybe I need to get the hell away from here? And stop thinking of ways to erase fucking Owen from existence.
She’s his. Not mine.
