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“Fine,” Taylor huffs.
I open my mouth to ask for a soda instead, but then I remember the list I wrote the other day. The silent promise I made to myself was that I’d try to get out of my comfort zone and be a normal college kid. And normal college kids drink beer.
Besides, Enrique is faster anyway. “Great, I’ll be back in a bit.”
It’s just one beer, I chastise myself.You can totally do it.
“You can run, but you can’t hide!” Taylor calls after him, bursting into laughter. “God, I love messing with him.”
Shaking my head, I turn my focus on Taylor. “So you’re not angry with him?”
“Oh, I’m pissed he’s been MIA for the better part of the summer, but we both know I can’t be angry at him for long.” She lets out a long sigh. “What’s up with you? How was your summer?”
“Good. I got to spend some time with my family and my new niece, which is always a plus.”
“I still can’t believe people are getting married and having kids straight out of college. I mean, good for them, but damn, it makes me anxious.”
“Right? I know we’re supposed to do those things eventually, but…” I shrug, unsure of how to finish that sentence without sounding like a loser.
“So, no small-town boys that make you turn your head when you’re back home?”
“What?” I feel the color rising up my cheeks. “Nope, definitely no small-town boys for me.”
No boys in general anywhere. Which was part of the problem, I guess. Timothy was the only boy I ever dated, and I’m using that term very lightly. He transferred to St. Lucy’s when I was seventeen after he lost his vision due to an injury. After a while, we became friends, and one thing led to another until we kissed. It was nice, and I liked him, but after we decided we were better off as friends.
“A bummer.”
“What’s a bummer?” Enrique’s question is followed by a loud clatter as he places the tray on the table.
“That there are no cute small-town boys Penny can flirt with. Like seriously, if there are no good guys in small towns, what are girls living in big cities supposed to expect?”
I let out a soft chuckle. “I didn’t say there are no good small-town boys, but I think Emmett scared everybody for life.”
“And that is exactly why I love being an only child. Freedom!”
“As if you’d let anybody boss you around one way or the other.” Enrique smirks.
“True. But enough about me. What about you, Mr. I’m-Backpacking-Through-Europe-And-Living-Off-My-Music-For-The-Summer?”
Enrique groans, “You’re never going to let me live it down, are you?”
“After thinking you’ve been kidnapped for the summer since you were too lazy to return any of my texts? I think not. Now spill.”
“It was exactly like you said, me traveling from city to city, country to country, and living off of what I earned with my playing. I didn’t have money to spend on texting you all the way back home.”
There is a softbumpunder the table, followed by, “Ouch! What was that for?”
“For saying that texting me would be a waste of money. So much for being best friends.”
“Because…”
I lift my hand before they can really get into it. This wasn’t my first rodeo with the two of them, and I knew if they got into it, there would be no stopping them.
“Why don’t you tell us how it was? What did you see?”
Thankfully, that does the trick. As I listen to Enrique tell us about his adventures and some misadventures from Europe, I feel that familiar pang of longing to do something more. Try something new. Be fearless.
That’s why you made the bucket list. It’s your own version of a backpacking trip.
