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“Hi,” she says, sinking down to straddle my lap on the lounger I’m sitting on. I pull her down so her head rests on my chest and kiss her temple.
“Hi,” I reply, feeling restless and uneasy but happy to have her in my arms.
“Am I really it for you?” she asks as I stroke her back.
“When I try to picture my future, I can’t see anyone but you. I know it’s fast, I know we are kids, but why can’t you find your soulmate at 18? Sure, most people don’t but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. It would be a tragedy if I had to wait years to be with you so people would feel more comfortable about us. Why should I care what anyone else thinks but you?” While I’m talking, she sits up so she can look at me.
“I feel the same way. Also, you’ve been reading ahead in Dragonfly in Amber, haven’t you?” she asks. We have shared an Outlander obsession since the power went out a few weeks ago and we decided to read one of my aunt’s books out loud to each other. It became a nightly ritual and when we finished Outlander, we started the second book.
“I’m just so upset at what happened to them, it’s not fair.”
She pats my cheek. “I know, baby, but it wouldn’t be an interesting book series if everything was fine and it all worked out.”
“Well, this isn’t a book it’s our life. No such tragedy shall befall ye!” I say in my worst Scottish brogue. She definitely has a better knack for accents when we read aloud.
Wisely, she decides to shut me up by locking her lips to mine.
CHAPTER 22
WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN?
MOLLIE THEN
“If you were able to time travel to any time or place, where would you go?” Owen asks on a dreary August morning. When we set up the lifeguard stand the wind and rain were awful and there was literally one person on the beach.
I’m wearing sweats and wrapped in my beach towel, and Owen has his shorts on along with a hoodie. He definitely runs warmer than I do and having him huddled close to me is helping keep me warm. There aren’t any swimmers out today but there are two surfers. Technically, they fall out of our responsibility but if something happens, we still need to call it in so we are watching them.
The surf is wild today, and even though the rain has stopped the wind is so strong that its whipping up the sand. Since we are high up it’s not really bothering us, but if you wanted to relax on the beach, today is not the day for it.
The bad news is we still need to be here all day. The good news is we like playing these games and want to know everything about one another. He started the game with if you could sleep with any famous person who would it be, and I said Brad Pitt and he said Natalie Portman. Then we both laughed because we look nothing like either of those people.
“I think I’d travel to 1965 Los Angeles,” I say, not elaborating.
“Okay, is there a reason you’re not expanding on that thought?”
“You didn’t say why,” I say with a straight face and he pinches my side.
“Fine, I would also travel to 1965 but to London.”
“Hmm,” I say and he squints at me in contemplation.
“I’m going to guess and say you’d want to enjoy the surf culture, hook up with Brian Wilson, and make friends with Gidget,” he says and he’s 99% on the nose. “Probably want to avoid the Watts riots though.”
“It was a dangerous time, for sure, but things were changing, and the music was incredible. I would have rocked those bold print dresses and go-go boots too.”
We watch as one of the surfers catches a wave and rides it almost to the shore.
“Have you traveled to California?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Not yet, but my dad keeps promising to take me to Disneyland,” I tease. “I’d love to travel around Northern California to see San Francisco, and the redwood forests.”
“I went there with my dad a few years ago for business and I had so much fun walking around the city, climbing those mountainous streets, shopping on Haight Street.”
“You’re so lucky.”
“Yes, having a dad who ignores your existence is super lucky,” he says, and although he’s joking, I know it hurts him to have his only parent neglect him. As much as my mom disappoints me, I know she loves me and at least tries. Her priorities are whacked but when she’s here, she’s here.
“I’m sorry your dad is shitty,” I say, giving his knee a squeeze. “You do have a bomb-ass aunt though who I am completely stealing as my aunt as well.”
