Page 46 of Barefoot Dreams
“Hey, yeah, Griffin forgot his breakfast and his card this morning at the shop, so I came by to drop it off for him.” I gesture to the imposing tower of a man standing next to us.
I don’t need to look at him to note the sudden mood change. That bright, energetic red aura surrounding us is now tainted with splotches of black anger and aggression.
I’m not as great as Nina, Willa, and my mom at reading auras but there’s no mistaking this shift. And it’s coming from Griffin.
“Griffin Owling, no shit.” Owen chuckles lightly, turning his gaze to the man in question who gives him a tight, forced smile. “I heard you were back.” Owen extends his hand for a shake and suppresses a wince when Griff accepts it.
“Mm-hmm, I’ve been back for about a month.”
“Nice! Welcome back!”
“Thanks,” he says dryly.
The entirety of my skin is itching to get away from this negativity. To defuse the situation I don’t understand, but it’s clear that Griffin is not happy to see Owen.
Why is a whole other question.
Sure, Owen was no angel and played a huge role in the bullying I lived through in school but I’ve long since forgiven him. Especially after he came by to apologize every day for the first year after he came back from college.
I don’t hold grudges. They are bad for your aura, so I didn’t hesitate to let go of all that negativity, but maybe Griffin is not too fast to forgive.
And why does that make that little girl inside me brim with excitement? Bad Julie! Bad, bad, bad.
“Well, I have to head back to work,” I say.
“Already?” Owen pouts. “I thought maybe we could have lunch together?”
“Sorry, Lia is all alone there and we are about to get all the lunch people in there.” I point to his chest, widening my eyes. Owen chuckles.
“Fine, fine. I won’t add to your workload. I’ll go somewhere else.” I smile and turn back toward Griffin whose glare hadn’t thawed one bit.
“Um, I’ll see you tonight?” I confirm, but it’s Owen who speaks up.
“Tonight? But you already have plans for tonight,” he says. When I don’t answer but simply furrow my brows, he adds, “Remember, we’re having dinner with my parents. I wanted to introduce you to them officially.”
“Oh.” I frown slightly, trying to recall when I’d agreed to such plans, but coming up short at the moment. “I’m sorry, it must’ve slipped my mind.”
“That’s okay, babe, but you’re still coming, right? They’ve been so excited to see you.” Owen casts a warry glance toward Griffin and back to me.
“Dinner, yeah, yes. I’ll be there, of course.” I nod, overdoing it a little on the enthusiasm that’s bordering on hysteria—because meeting parents is a huge deal—but Owen seems to be happy with the respond and kisses my cheek again.
There one second and gone the next… When I look to the spot where Griffin stood, it’s empty but I still catch his retreating form before he ducks inside the station.
“Griff?” I call out, and he stops but doesn’t turn around fully, only his head. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” With another tight smile, he vanishes from my sight.
“Come on, I’ll walk you back to your shop.” Owen tugs on my hand and I have nothing left to do but to follow him and ponder what that smile meant and why it felt so cold…
11
Not Dear Diary
Dinner with Owen’s parents? Am I hyperventilating?
12
Julie
“The course of true love never did run smooth.” – William Shakespeare
