“Sorry,” her tiny voice whispered as she got up. “I’ll go.”
Just then, I noticed a figure in the shadows behind her. It was Seb, madly motioning for me to get Blue to stay.
Quickly, I held up a hand to stop her. “Why?”
I was truly talking to Sebastian, but Blue’s sapphire eyes nervously shifted to the left then right, making it clear how lost and sad she was. Staring at her bare feet, she whispered, “I don’t know.”
Seb put his palms together, begging me to do something. Why he chose me to get her to talk, I may never understand, but… I couldn’t deny his pleas. So, I asked Blue, “Then, uh… will you stay?”
After a pause, she sat back down, shoulders hunched. Her petite legs swung under the wooden bench, confirming Seb was correct. This tiny girl may have big things to share. It didn’t take a genius to observe something was wrong. She was the same age as Sarah—about to enter the eighth grade—yet light-years away from Sarah’s old soul ways.
“Thanks.” I stepped inside and took a seat on the bench opposite her.
Behind her, Seb waved a hand, demanding I get to business.
What the fuck do I say? “Er… You’re up late.”
Seb’s head bobbled as though my comment wasn’t with the depth he was hoping for but that it would do.
Sucking her bottom lip into a nervous mouth, Blue nodded.
Talk about pulling teeth for a conversation.
As if reading my mind, Sebastian gave me a good-ol’-mean mug.
Fine! I cleared my throat while chanting in my head, Girl talk. Girl talk. “Did, uh, a brush get stuck in your hair, or something—” My next words kind of died in my mouth as Seb winced as if I had just insulted every female on earth. “—and woke, uh, you up?”
Confused with my idiocy, Blue examined a lock of her hair as if looking for a brush. “Umm, no.” Dropping the hair she sighed. “A nightmare.”
Trying to sound feminine and casual, I sighed while crossing my legs to rest my arms on them. “Me, too.” As soon as I felt my balls scream a protest from between my thighs, I uncrossed them, my hands flailing, and I mumbled, “Fucking hell.”
Seb’s jaw hung as if finally realizing he hired the wrong guy for the job.
What? It hurt!
Jaw locked, Seb’s finger pointed at Blue for me to focus.
Geez! Who knew the sweet kid could be so pushy? I set my shoulders back. Girl talk. “Uh. Yeah. Nightmares suck.” I even rolled my eyes, hoping it made me more girlie.
Seb covered his face as if this train wreck was too awful to watch.
Fucker.
“You have them too?” asked Blue with a hue of shame for having them in the first place.
My heart pinged, but I kept up the charade. “Pfft.” Oh, that’s good. Girls pfft all the time. “Oh yeah.”
The connection, even though it was a sad one, seemed to make Blue’s body ease. “Sometimes I just try to stay up all night to avoid them.”
Seb’s fingers split to see me. The smooth, clear surface of his glasses caught a reflection of the hanging lights and my full attention. That was the most I ever heard Blue say at one time, and it spoke a truth similar to my own.
Quietly, I admitted, “I get it.”
Seb’s hand slowly dropped.
As I wondered if I truly wanted to know what gave this tiny sweetheart nightmares, we stayed in silence, listening to the crickets and watching the fireflies blinking above the lawn. The warm August air kept the night from becoming chilly. I was thankful. Blue was only wearing a plain pajama dress that looked like it came from a Catholic store?—
Suddenly, I remembered Noma telling me, “Some religions are ways to hide the devil.”
