Page 25 of Barefoot Chaos
I didn't have a brother growing up, nor had I been involved in sports, so the full body contact was awkward and uncomfortable at first. But when someone puts their hands on your neck with the intent to strangle you, you get over your discomfort expediently. Survival instincts kicked in and I began to enjoy the physical nature of rolling someone off of me. It made me feel strong, capable, in charge of my own body.
Shasta called it a day when we were all wiping sweat off our foreheads, arms and necks bright red from our movements. We agreed to walk over to Chocolate Dreams and have a reward for our hard work in the form of decadent hot chocolates.
After we settled into a table and got our lips on that first sip of heaven, Bailey blurted out a question, directed at me. "So what's up with you and Kai, Hessa-girl?"
I just about spit out my chocolate. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"Well, I heard you've gone on a few dates. So, what's the scoop? You into him?" All the other ladies leaned in, intent on catching every word of this conversation.
I set my chocolate cup down on the table and pulled my hair back into a smoother ponytail without the flyaways, needing the extra time to collect my thoughts. I had nothing to hide, but I wasn't even sure what was going on yet, so how could I tell them?
"Interesting....stall tactics." Brinley's face lit up in a wicked smile directed at the girls. Then she turned to me with a wink and an explanation. "I know all about that. They questioned me hard core when I started dating Dean. You might as well just spill it before they pull it out of you. They won't stop. Resistance is futile."
They all burst out laughing, heads nodding, confirming their resolve to know about my involvement with Kai.
I rolled my eyes, reverting to teenage behavior, since this entire conversation felt very similar to other ones I'd had at that age. "Okay, all right already. Yes, I've been out with Kai a few times recently, though I wouldn't go so far as to call them official dates. We've just been meeting up at the beach."
"Wait, why wouldn't you call them dates?" Shasta's face was screwed up in confusion.
"Well, we met up to talk about the Care Dare situation. It just happened to be on the beach. And then he asked me to meet him again. Totally not a date." I hadn't really classified it like that in my own head, so saying it out loud deflated the happy bubble I'd been living in the last few days. Maybe I really was reading too much into it.
"Hmm...I don't know. Sounds like a date to me. Dean told me he saw you guys sitting on the sand, and not like a friend distance away. More like practically sitting on each other's lap." Brinley had a sly grin on her face.
"Was Dean spying on us?" I didn't like the idea of anyone I knew watching us. That time together felt so private, it was weird to think Dean saw us.
"No, of course not! But itisa public beach, you know?” Brinley frowned, not liking my insinuation.
I shook my head, not meeting her eyes. "Sorry, that didn't come out right. I know he wouldn't spy. It just felt weird knowing someone had seen us." I sighed. "I don't know what to call our meetings. They felt like dates, but we didn't really talk about the significance or what we are to each other."
"Sooooo...?" Esa had a smile on her face, motioning with her hands for me to continue.
"So...what?"
"Did you kiss or hug or even just touch in a super friendly way?" Esa asked.
"Smoldering glances?" Bailey added.
"Sexy flirting?" Shasta interjected.
"All of the above...?" I answered like it was a question, but technically, our 'meetings' did have all of the above.
There was a moment's pause while they processed what I meant. Then all four girls exploded with whoops and hollers. Brinley reached over the table to high-five me.
"Thatta girl, Hessa," Bailey encouraged me.
I threw back my head and laughed. These girls were crazy and I loved them.
"I guess we'll call them dates?" I looked around the table at their faces, knowing their answers already.
"Hell yeah, we will!" Esa shouted. Then she settled down a bit. "Now the question is what do you want to do from here. Do you like him? Do you want to go on more dates? What's your next move?"
"Whoa, hold up, lady. We're not all trying to get married like you. I'm planning to just enjoy the time I get with him and see what happens." I went back to sipping my hot chocolate, content in my plan.
"What?" Shasta had her face all screwed up again. "That's your plan?? Just see what happens? That's a shit plan, excuse my French. You gotta take the bull by the horns. This is not the 1800's anymore. You gotta woman-up and go for what you want."
"Yeehaw! Shasta is on a roll!" Brinley cracked up laughing.
"She's got a point though. You gotta go for what you want. Do you want Kai?" Esa was smiling at me, ever the peacemaker.
