Page 71 of Barefoot Dreams

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“This was a set up. Wasn’t it, you prick? You never gave me all the rules.”

Luke looks at me like I’m stupid. “Duh! You’ve known me how many years? Honestly, it’s quite pathetic how easily you bought it.”

“I hate you,” I grumble, throwing him a death glare, but he laughs and claps his hands excitedly.

“Oh, just wait till you hear what I have planned for you.”

19

Not Dear Diary

A blind date! I agreed to a blind date! Well, more like got forced into it. What was I thinking? Just the thought of spending an evening with someone else twists my insides with revulsion.

But I promised I’d move on. Didn’t I?

I don’t have to like it, though.

20

Julie

“The beauty of love is that you can fall into it with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time.” – Rumi

Itwist the little chain bracelet with tiny orange charms on my wrist for the hundredth time as my colorful heels click against the paved concrete, the ties around my ankles brushing against my skin with each step.

I don’t think I look too fancy but maybe I should’ve dressed without Hope’s help for this. She made me put in way more effort than I would otherwise, including the said bohemian-style heels I impulse bought a month ago with her.

At least I set a hard limit on my underwear. There’s no reason I need to wear the lacy pair she shoved at me when I’m comfortable in my simple, cotton ones. They even have cute cherries on them, and I’m the only one seeing them tonight, so comfort won.

But the rest was her idea. My flowy, ankle-length ivory skirt with embroidered flowers in it. The brown, knit crop top that ties on my neck and has cute, colorful beads hanging from the bottom, over my exposed stomach. Hope also decided I should put my hair in one of those half up-dos I like to wear and I slipped my long, beaded earrings into my ears.

Not fancy. But definitely too much for a date I didn’t want to go to.

Breathe in and out, Julie. It’ll be just a nice, simple evening with a person you don’t know. Or rather, don’t know that well seeing as I know nearly all single men in LC.

Letting the air out of my lungs, I fling the door to LPs open.

It is most definitely notjust a dateI note when I walk in, and Willa leads me to a booth at the end of the bar. I nearly twist my ankle in these heels when I see who's occupying the other side of the said booth because I’ll never mistake these broad shoulders and brown hair for anyone else.

Anyone other than Griffin Owling.

Sweet daisies, theydidplot this… Why am I always so naive?

“Enjoy your evening, darling.” Willa sends me a knowing smile, and I stifle a groan. Yep, I was set up.

Big time.

Griffin is just about to take a sip of his beer when he notices my approach and stops the glass halfway to his mouth, staring at me with confusion.

“What are you doing here?” he asks slowly, his eyes traveling up and down my body.

“I’m on a blind date?” It definitely comes out as a question. “To be fair I was pressured into this.” I slide onto the other side of the booth, the cool blue leather seat feeling heavenly to my suddenly overheated body.

“No, I’m on a blind date,” Griffin states, his brown eyes piercing through mine.

“Well, looks like I am it.” I open the menu despite knowing every item on here by heart. The one that's hammering inside my chest.

“I thought you were already dating someone.” He frowns, the dark strands of his hair that lay over his forehead, moving from the movement.