Page 91 of Freshmeet
Rolling his eyes, Jamie popped open the trunk.
My jaw dropped. “How in the hell did those get there?”
“I borrowed your car this morning before you got back from Sarah’s.”
“That’s the most fireworks I’ve ever seen outside of one of those roadside tents.” Grant pointed at the ski lodge. “We’re not shooting them off there, are we?”
“Do I look like an arsonist?” Realizing we weren’t going to answer him, he kept going. “We’re going to the train bridge!”
“No shit.” Tom sounded impressed. Back when we were always getting into trouble, Tom was the mastermind. “That’s why we’re parked over here? In case we have to run?”
“When we have to run.” Jamie grinned and started grabbing bags of premium fireworks.
“How’d you afford these?” I asked when he handed me a box full of what we called the “rich people” bundles.
“Huh?” Jamie kept digging in the trunk and putting bag after bag on us like pack mules.
“I said, how did you afford these? I know what you make working on Uncle Rick’s crew.”
His lips twisted back and forth, but he finally spilled. “I got them from Sarah.”
At the mention of her name, my heart stuttered. “Go on.”
“She wanted to make sure you had fun on your one night off, even if she couldn’t be here.”
Grant peeked in the bag he was holding. “Damn. Is Sarah rich?”
“No. Her parents are.” Jamie slammed the trunk closed, drawing my attention.
“She’s cut off. Where did she get the money for this?”
Jamie stared at me, struggling with whom he was more loyal to. “I can assure you she didn’t spend a dime. Why don’t you ask her about it next time you see her?” Pleased with how he handled me, his smile was back as he led us to the train bridge, a NEMO institution.
Every new freshman was brought there and told to stand facing the train as it whooshed underneath their feet. Being a Kirksville native, it didn’t hold the same charm for me, but it was the site of many an adolescent mishap.
Case in point. I’d asked Laura to be my girlfriend at the train bridge sophomore year of high school.
As we walked onto the vacant bridge, a shrill whistle filled the air as a train rushed by, blowing hot air in our faces. We got to work grouping the fireworks, laughing, and taking pulls of the cool but not cold liquor Jamie had in the trunk.
“You think I could get a job at the Wel?” Grant asked me, his back to where Tom and Jamie threatened each other with bottle rockets.
“Probably. We’re always short-staffed.”
“Cool. I really need to get out of my dad’s before I kill him.”
“Still an asshole?”
He nodded. “Still an asshole.”
“I’ll give John your number. I can talk to Uncle Rick, too, if you want.”
We tapped our cans together. “Thanks. And sorry for giving you trouble about Sarah. I’m happy for you. It’s awesome you’re finally giving someone a chance.”
Ah, he was drunk. Grant got downright sappy with the right amount of alcohol.
“I appreciate it. What about you?”
He chuckled and chugged the rest of his beer, crushing the can when he was done. “What about me?”
