AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What are you doing Julia? You have to tell me now.”
“I can’t Sawyer. Don’t ask again, please? I just can’t.”
Sawyer sighs. “Alright.”
Out of nowhere an uncomfortable silence creeps in and I’m not sure which direction it flew in from because I could have sworn I blocked all those exits when I was around Sawyer Tuttle.
“So? Sawyer?”
“Julia?” He grins.
“Do you know Robyn Larson?”
His eyes grow huge.
“I don’t mean know Robyn Larson. I mean just, like, do you know anything about her?”
“Uh, well.” He scrubs the back of his neck. “I don’t mean to gossip but I heard she might be pregnant.”
Sadie’s eyes beat Sawyer’s earlier expression.
“Oh,” I say. “Do you know who the...who the daddy is?”
“Julia!” Sadie says, choking on the water she was attempting to drink.
“I’m sorry. That’s an inappropriate question.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think you’d know the father. I heard it’s....well, I heard it’s some boy from Charleston’s baby.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yeah. Sad.”
“Extremely,” I agree.
Sawyer peers out the colorful glass windows.
“Walk home with me?” Sawyer asks, throwing his shoulder the direction of the door.
Sunday, at church, my family sits two rows behind Elliott Gray’s family and I find myself wondering what he was doing yesterday with Robyn Larson. I really like her, despite her unfortunate reputation. She’s kind to everyone. I think she just forgets to show herself the same kindness.
He repeatedly shoots glances over his shoulder at me. I train my eyes to focus on the light fixture hanging from the rafter above his head. I wish so badly for him to ignore me. The body shivers, the heart aches, the chest tingles. They’re all proving to be too much with his longing looks stacked on top.
After the service, most Sundays, the families meet at Babe’s restaurant in Roanoke. We all pile into the overstuffed room and talk and laugh. I sit down and surprisingly Robyn Larson sits directly beside me just as Elliott Gray walks through the door. His tall form is highlighted from behind by the sun, casting a glow around his body. His blue eyes pierce through me and I almost topple over in my chair. Robyn catches me with a giggle.
“Hi,” she says.
“Hi,” I say back.
“Remember last year when you tried to be my friend?” She jumps in.
“Uh,” I laugh, “yeah.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t give you the chance you deserved.”
I clear my throat, “It’s cool.”
“It’s not. Yesterday I had a chat with a good friend of mine and he sort of helped me sort through a lot of things I’ve been going through lately. I mentioned that you tried to help me once and he told me you were exactly the kind of girl I should be friends with and I couldn’t agree more. So, friends?” She asks, holding out her hand.
