Page 20 of Here In Your Arms

Me: Um, no that should be fine. I can be up and ready.

Pool God: You sure?

Me: Yeah, totally fine.

Pool God: OK, see you in a couple days

Whes!: Can’t wait!

Me: Yeah, see you soon.

Maybe I should go back and edit the response. I am excited to see them, but I wasn’t sure if I should say that. It was a little overwhelming having all that information thrown at me before having to make a decision. I shake myself. No, I can be a grown and confident woman. My response was just fine. Now I just have to stay out of my head before Saturday.

Saturday morning is bright and full of sunshine. Seems like a good omen. I’m smoothing my shirt down, wondering if this outfit is okay. I went with a casual tank top and jeans, my hair in its usual braid, but I added some makeup today. Hopefully, it’s nice enough for them. Grabbing my keys, I start for downtown. The parking is as insane as I would expect for a Saturday, but I’ve seen worse. We agreed to meet at the giant red sculpture since it’s not hard to find. I walk the few blocks to it and don’t see them in the crowd immediately, so my attention goes to the stage.

They have amateur musicians up there, playing their instruments and crooning their feelings into the microphone. It’s a little hard to hear from here since we’re outside, but I like watching their faces. You can see the emotion playing through as they convey emotion through song.

“Hey!” I hear a voice nearby that makes me jump and turn.

Kyle is standing there, smiling at me, and Wes is next to him, a soft smile on his face.

“Oh, hey guys,” I say as a smile spreads across my face.

“Checkin’ out the music?” Kyle asks.

“Yeah, I didn’t see you guys right away, so when I heard the music I had to watch.”

“You mean listen?” Wes asks.

“No, watch.” I smile. “I love watching musicians. The music is definitely part of the experience, but seeing their faces as they sing their emotions out is my favorite part.”

Wes studies me, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but his face is soft and open, like I’ve touched his soul.

“So, what’s your favorite thing to do here?” I ask them.

“Have you never been?” Kyle asks.

“I think when I was little we came a few times, but it’s been years since I’ve come to this,” I confess.

“Oh man! We gotta start with food then,” Wes says, placing a hand on his own flat stomach. “That’s, like, the majority of the reason to come.”

“I thought it was an arts festival,” I say, falling into step with them as they begin to mosey on.

“Oh sure,” Wes says, “but, food.”

I look at him, expecting more explanation.

“Don’t worry about getting more than that out of him.” Kyle chuckles. “That’s the extent of the argument.”

I look over at Kyle. “It is a good one, Pool God, you have to admit.”

He groans. “Not Pool God again.”

For a second I’m worried I really upset him, then I see him smile and decide he’s just joking. I look at Wes to see if he has more to add, and see him scanning the crowd, muttering to himself.

“Find anything good?” I ask.

“Ever had Aebleskiver?” he asks.

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