Page 94 of Summer, in Between
‘Sorry, not for me, either, thanks Mick,’ says Paul.‘I’ve got to go help the old man.I’ll see you later, Cat?’He kisses me on the cheek then shakes JB’s hand.‘Good to meet you.’
‘Yeah, you too,’ says JB.Paul disappears down the stairs as Tommy grabs JB’s arm.
‘Come on, JB, let’s play.’
‘That’s a no, Tommy,’ I say.‘I promise you next time JB comes we’ll play with you for as long as you want.’
‘Are you guys going to the beach?Can I come?’Matty says.
‘What do you think?’I almost feel bad as his face lights up.I grab my t-shirt off the chair. ‘That’s a no, too.Let’s go, JB.’
40
‘MAN, how hot is it?’says JB as we walk to the beach.
‘It’s oppressive.Intolerable, even.Like your hat.’I reach up to knock it off, but he stands at his full height.I have no chance.
‘Ooh, look who’s collecting big English words,’ he says.‘Intolerable is standing on the side of the highway when it’s four hundred degrees begging for a ride.Still, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see you, even though I knew I’d cop nothing but abuse.’
‘Ah, you love it.’
‘Seriously, though, how are you?You good?’
‘I’m so good, you have no idea how good I am.’
‘And the surfer, seems intense.He a good guy?’
‘He’s the best.’I find myself blushing.The sweat trickling down behind my ear tells me that the heat of the day will mask a blush as exertion.
‘Is he though?’JB’s voice lacks his jovial tone.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Nothing,’ he says.‘Just something Scampo said.’
‘What did Ant say to you?’
