Page 31 of Barefoot Dreams
“What am I, five?”
“I’d say more like ten,” Jacob muses from across the table. “You know, it’s that age when boys are too terrified to tell a girl they like her. Don’t worry, I was always good with the ladies. I’ll give you tips.”
“Shut up,” I throw his way, and he smiles triumphantly, mouthing, “got ya.”
“So, wanna bet?” Alec’s hand is still extended my way and with a roll of my eyes, I shake on it.
“Whatever, mate. If I want to leave, I’ll leave.”
“Nope, you won’t.”
“You should know, Alec’s yet to lose a single bet he ever wagered.” Jacob grins. “The guy’s tenacious.”
I groan. “I knew I should’ve stayed home today.”
“You’d rock that, by the way.”
“Totally would,” Jacob seconds as I sigh, knowing what they’re talking about.
“I’m not sure.” I twist the beer bottle in my hands.
“Wait, didn’t you want to be a firefighter back when you still lived here?” Alec asks. “I remember both you and my good-for-nothing older brother going on and on about it.”
That earns a small chuckle out of me.
Yeah, we did. We used to think it would be the coolest gig everandit would score us points with the girls. What? We were sixteen-seventeen-year-old hormonal boys at that time, it was literally all we thought about.
“Now, back to Julie,” they start, and I take it as my cue to leave.
“Okay, I’m out.” I get up, moving out of the booth.
“See you tomorrow morning,” Alec says, and I stop.
“Why would you see me tomorrow morning?”
“Because you’re coming to the town workout.”
“Strange, I don’t remember agreeing to do that.”
“Oh, you didn’t. But Jacob and I already decided that you can’t be trusted, so we’ll do all the thinking from now on.”
“Lord help us all,” I cry to the ceiling. “I will not see you tomorrow morning.”
Jacob chuckles. “Poor guy, he actually believes it.”
7
Griffin
“When love is not madness, it is not love.” – Pedro Calderón de la Barca
The evening chill has settled over our town, the ruckus wind over the ocean falling asleep for the night as the tiny twinkling stars litter the dark skies above.
I’ve always loved the nighttime, to stroll around the empty-ish streets and breathe with only the stars watching you. I’ve always felt more comfortable at this time, because I don’t feel the nagging need to hide those parts of me—from myself included. Don’t feel the need to be something I’m not. Because no one can see when it’s dark. No one can tell I love walking barefoot or enjoy a meditation session.
Or that I burn sage here and there because I remember Julie telling me how important that was when I was like fifteen.
Or at least I used to. Before the persona I tried to be took over completely.
