Page 16 of Dreams
“Oh yes, the big day. Have a date?”
“First, Jason had a question for you.”
There was some rustling and then the voice on the other end changed.
“Josh, man, how are you?” Jason asked.
“I’m good. You?”
“Just ask him,” Michaela yelled in the background.
“You up for being a groomsman?”
“Sure, dude. Sounds cool,” Josh answered calmly.
“That’s it?” Michaela stole the phone back. “'Sounds cool’?”
“Michaela,” Josh laughed. “We’re guys. I’m not going to go running down the street screaming in excitement.”
“Fine. Well, forgive me if I offend you, but you’re not going to be an All-Star this year, right?”
Josh barked out a sudden laugh. “I don’t think so, no.”
Michaela was still laughing as she explained that they wanted to have the wedding over All-Star weekend so he could be there.
“I wouldn’t want to do this without you,” she said.
Josh walked through the door to the diner and stopped when he saw a familiar face near the back wall.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Josh said into the phone. “Look, Mic, I’ve got to go.”
He hung up and shoved his phone into his pocket before looking at the girl again. The last time he saw her, she had long hair and was soaking wet. This girl had her hair styled short and a pair of glasses sat snuggly on her face. But, the sharp eyes behind those glasses were unmistakable.
He knew she lived in Columbus now. Sarah asked him to watch out for her and he didn’t even try. Everyone kept telling him this was his year to break out. He’d been focused on that.
His feet moved of their own will as he crossed the diner, stopping in front of her booth. She was too engrossed in her book to look up.
“Must be a good story,” he finally said.
That got her attention. She jumped in surprise and then her gaze slid up his body, finally stopping on his face. Recognition lit in her eyes.
Josh slid into the booth uninvited and leaned over the table. “What’re you reading?”
She stared at him for a second. “Outlander.”
“Oh, those are good. I read the series last year.”
Her eyes widened like he had just sprouted a second head, and he chuckled softly.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
He knew she didn’t mean in this diner.
“I live here.”
“You didn’t tell me that before.”
He shrugged before waving down a waitress. “Can I get a coffee and a chicken sandwich with mustard, lettuce, tomato, and onion?”
