Page 10 of Six Years
“You were a weird kid, Luan,” he says, and sets down a new glass of apple juice on the counter.
“Now, Joshi-looking-Josh, that’s not very nice of you,” Luan counters but gladly takes the apple juice. “Here I was thinking we could be best friends in a short time, but no, you just had to ruin it.”
“I’m probably double your age, kid.”
Luan gasps offendedly, holding a hand right over his heart. “Are you saying I cannot befriend older guys because I am ‘too young’?”
“Yup.”
“I’ll have you know, most of my friends are either older than seventy, or minors.”
Bartender-Josh blinks in shock, as so do I. What the fuck?
“I’m a soccer coach,” Luan tells me to at least ease some of my concerns. “I coach girls. The younger ones arereallynosy. But they’re good company for an hour twice a week. The U18 ones are somehow even chattier than the little girls, and their problems consist of relationships and how Rebecca from science class didn’t wear pink nail polish when they all agreed on doing just that.”
I lean my arm onto the counter, bringing my hand up to press my index finger over my lips. Somehow, I don’t think he minds the chattiness of said girls.
“Also,” he adds, clearing his throat. “I go to a retirement home once a week, every Friday. Bingo-night is such a vibe. I’d much rather be there than attend some parties, I’m too old for those anyway.”
“How old are you?” I ask, now curious.
He gasps out loud. “Was that apersonalquestion, Grey Davis?”
“No.” I take a sip from my whiskey. “It’s useful information.”
Luan narrows his eyes, trying so hard not to smile this time. “If you’re in love with me, Grey Davis, you can just say it. That’s fine. I get it. I amverylikable and hot. I have cute dimples and a perfect smile. There’s no need to be subtle.”
And he’s very… confident.
My eyebrows quip up, for the first time tonight showing an actual reaction other than resentment. “So, are you going to answer me?”
He hums while getting off his seat. Luan quickly downs the rest of his apple juice and then turns to me again. “Maybe on our second date. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Shocked and a little surprised, I don’t even stop him from walking away. That is until the bartender reminds me that Luan never said where I’m supposed to meet him, or when.
Once I realize what that means, I shoot up and almost run after Luan. It’s a little more difficult in the sand but manageable.
“Wait,” I say and lay my hand on his shoulder. Luan turns around, blinking in slow motion like this is a weird romantic comedy movie. “You never said where I should meet you.”
He smiles, brings a hand to my jaw, and strokes his thumb over my cheek. Unlike the first time he touched my face, I don’t swat his hand away. “If you want to see me again that badly, Grey Davis, you’ll figure out a way to find me.” With that he turns around once more and leaves me behind.
He didn’t give me his number. Nor an address. Nor anything else that would allow me to find him.
Perhaps all this is just a game to him after all.
Chapter 6
“but just for this moment / let me live in my head”—Made Up Story by Andi
July 2022
“NO, ZOEY! IT’S ATHROW-IN,NOT ACORNER KICK!” Alice yells at her sister from outside of the pitch, groaning when Zoey doesn’t hear.
Zoey is four years old, and I get the feeling she doesn’t even like soccer that much. I believe she only plays because she tries to be just like her older sister who happens tolovesoccer.
“Well, aren’t you going to do anything?” Alice looks up at me, her eyebrows dipped with anger.
I lay my hand down on Alice’s shoulder, slowly shaking my head. “This isn’t a match, Alice. They’re playing for fun. You probably don’t remember because it’s been ages since you started, but when you first started playing, your Coach didn’t have you play by the rules either.”
