Page 19 of Between the Blue
We’re quiet for a few seconds. Sutty’s eyes never leave my face.
Neither does the shit-eating grin on his.
I run a hand through my hair. Let out a sigh.
“So, what’s her deal?”
Rhett shakes his head, looking away. He downs the rest of his beer bottle, then stands up from the couch.
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
His hand goes into his pocket.
I tilt my head at him. Raise a brow.
He pulls his fist out of his pocket, taking his car keys out with it. He jingles them around. Smirks at me like the little shit that he is.
“I happen to know where she spends her Friday nights.”
“Two tickets, please.”
“Here you go.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Sutty says, throwing the old woman behind the counter a wink. He takes a receipt and the wristbands from her. Hands one to me.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, following him inside the main door to Golden Rollers. It’s our local roller rink. “Don’t think I’ve been here since your birthday party. When you turned seven.”
“Just relax,” he says, patting my cheek. I smack his hand away. He chuckles, getting in line for the skate rental booth.
“Why are we renting skates?” I question him. “We have our own.”
Several pairs, in fact.
Gotta have something to kill the time in the summer offseason.
“All a part of the process, Jamesy,” he says, crossing his arms and turning forward.
“You said you knew where Jul–” I cut off.
Stop dead in my tracks. Because a voice I’ve only heard in my dreams for the last week hits my ears.
“Skates or blades?”
There she is.
Behind the skate rental booth.
And even in the collared shirt and khakis she’s in, she’s so much prettier than I even remembered.
Dammit.
“What…” I start, and then it hits me when I read her name tag.
Julia Gold.
Golden Rollers.
“Does her family own this place?” I ask Rhett, my voice low.
