Page 21 of Searching for Beautiful
“Cute slippers,” he says, surprising me because it’s completely out of the blue. “Do your PJs have a bushy tail, too?” He’s got that same half smile on his face from earlier. That flirty, I’m-a-hot-boy-who-can-have-any-girl-I-want look, and I’m suddenly annoyed again. I hate that cocky-guy look and that cocky-guy grin and I will not be pulled into that trap again.
“Cute way to try to look at my ass. ” I let one of my brows raise, a little swell of pride in my chest that I’m calling this how I see it.
“Hey, it’s a good line, and I don’t remember you being such a grump. ”
A grump? A grump? His words make me stifle a laugh. A sarcastic one, sure, but a chuckle all the same. “Bad job at your analysis. This is not me being grumpy. That’s a whole lot worse. ”
Christian shifts on the chair a little, then pulls his sleeves down to cover his hands. “Observation, not an analysis. ”
My porch light flickers a little but stays on. Think, think, think! The urge to get the best of him simmers inside me. I used to be pretty good at getting in the last word. “I… Whatever. ” Awesome. I rocked at that. Not.
“I would say I know you are but what am I, but then, that doesn’t make much sense, I guess. It would be right along the same lines as whatever. ”
I search my brain for more silly sayings, not letting myself overthink what I’m doing. “I’m rubber, you’re glue. ” A grin pulls at my lips.
“Gummy bear?” he asks.
I wait for the punch line before I realize he’s really asking me if I want some candy.
Christian pops a few into his mouth.
Gummy bear? Talk about a subject change. I’m at a loss for words. First, I’ve never known a guy who carries gummy bears in his pocket and second, weren’t we just having this strange, immature sort of witty-banter thing going on? But then…this little flash of a memory spouts in my head. That sugar
y smell when we danced. The box of… “You used to eat Jujubes, didn’t you? I remember you always had a box of them with you. ”
He shakes his head. “Nope. It was Dots. ”
“Oh yeah!” I laugh. “Dots. I remember now. I…” I bought a box of them. I put them on my desk so he’d see them, think we had something in common, and fall madly in love with me. My cheeks burn. Wow, I can’t believe I did that. Mark that on my ever-growing list of things I will never again do for a boy.
“You what?”
So not going there. “Nothing. So what’s up with the candy?”
After shrugging, he pops a couple more into his mouth and then says, “Sweet tooth, I guess. What’s your vice?”
His question comes out of nowhere. Most people I know wouldn’t ask something like that. “Umm, I don’t know. I guess I don’t have one. ”
Christian snickers. “Not possible. You can borrow mine till you figure yours out, if you want. Gummy bears make the world go round and all that. ”
“Oh my God. ” His words are so ridiculous I can’t stop myself from laughing. Hard. Like real, loud belly laughs. I’m almost not sure it’s me at first. “Gummy bears make the world go round? I think you’re pushing it a little. Or a lot. ”
“No way. Have you had these things lately? They’re pretty good. The world would be a much better place if everyone chilled out and indulged in a gummy bear every now and again. ”
“Yeah, might be the answer to ending world hunger. ”
“Screw that. It’s the answer to world hunger and peace. ”
Another spontaneous laugh jumps out of my mouth. A second later, Christian is doing the same.
“Brynn!” My head turns toward the house as Dad steps outside, frowning. “What are you doing? Who are you talking to?” His voice is firm, holding a sound of…something, I don’t even know what it is, but I’ve never heard it directed at me before.
“Nothing… No one. ” Which is stupid because it’s obviously someone and he’s hanging over my fence with a mouth full of gummy bears. Dad’s head is so red it looks like it might explode.
“I brought dinner. Time to come in for the night. ”
Time to come inside? It’s seven o’clock and I’m in my backyard. “Umm, okay?”
Dad’s eyes cut toward Christian, who just pops a few more gummy bears like nothing is going on.
