Page 30 of Barefoot Dreams
“Don’t worry, brother. We’ll get you all fixed up.” Alec is barely able to hold his laugh in.
“I hate you both.” I tip my head back as they break out in a fit of giggles.
I must admit, hanging out with these two is not bad at all. I feel lighter and more like myself than I have in a while now, despite their nagging about Julie and my pretend dick issues. I don’t feel the world weighing on my shoulders and my mind isn’t chased with a thousand questions and issues I’ve had.
And who am I kidding, a huge part of it is knowing the Viking doesn’t have Julie’s heart. Although, what I was supposed to do with that information now, I had no idea.
It’s not like I can just walk in, press her lush body into the wall, and kiss those strawberry lips until all she can breathe is me. Until she’s mine.
In fact, it’s easier knowing Julie loves someone else. It’s safer.
It’s always safer for me to stay away from her.
Jacob is right, I’ve been an egg this whole time when I should be a ham! If only it was that easy.
I’m so lost in my Julie-fog that I don’t notice another body standing next to our table.
“Griffin Owling, well, I’ll be damned” comes from a hoarse, older voice. I look up to find Frank Lovehill, the chief of Loverly Cave Fire Department, looking down at me with a warm smile and one of the funky cocktails in his hand.
“Good evening, sir.” I get up, extending my hand out for a handshake which he doesn’t take, instead opting for a bear hug that he ropes me into.
“Look at you!” He pulls away after a few awkward seconds and grabs me by my shoulders while his drink is slowly making its way down my sleeve. “All grown up.” He smiles. “I remember the days when you and those two other rascals created havoc in this town like you got paid for it.”
Ain’t that the truth, I chuckle to myself. “Yeah, those were them wild days. Sorry?” I feel the need to apologize because it was mostly Frank and the sheriff dealing with our shenanigans.
One time we even managed to put a Love Car on top of a kid’s playground. Mind you, we were in our early teens at that time. Yet, Luke, Cal, and I always found a way to create trouble. To stir the pot in an already crazy town.
“Eh.” He waves me off. “No need for that. We had some good laughs over it all. But now look at you! Are you all done with your service?”
“Yeah, I retired a couple of months ago.” More like was forced to leave but…details.
“Huh.” He scratches his chin. “Looking for a new job, by any chance?”
“A job?” My eyebrows jump up.
“Yeah, we need another fireman at the station.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’d qualify. I don’t have any training like that,” I tell him. Plus, with the new discoveries, I’m not even sure if I’ll be staying in LC long enough to need a job, but Mr. Lovehill just waves me off.
“That’s not a problem. We can train you and you can take all the necessary tests. Besides, with a background like yours, you have more than most on the team already.”
I scratch the back of my neck as a wave of unease washes over me. “Thank you for your offer, but I don’t think I’ll be staying in Loverly. You know, just visiting.”
“Is that so?” He scratches his chin, and I feel two sets of eyes drilling into my profile along with Alec’s murmured,“What the fuck?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, it’s all up in the air as of now.”
“How about you think about it, yeah? No rush. If you decide to stay, come on by.” He smiles and with one more clap to my shoulder saunters away.
“Dude!” Alec shouts, almost jumping out of his seat. “What the fuck? Moving away? Again? Nah, not happening.”
I lift an eyebrow. “And who’s gonna stop me?” As soon as I ask the question I regret it, because by the look of it, Alec’s imagination is wild and just now he came up with at least a thousand ways to prevent it.
“Try me,” he warns, and an actual chill washes over me.
“Jesus, mate.” I shiver. “Knock it off.”
“Wanna bet you won’t leave Loverly?” He extends his hand my way, and I shake my head at him.
