Page 25 of Sunset Catchers

There is no change in his expression; that’s a no on the mind reading.

“How do you know I’m a vegetarian?”

“Your cart. At the grocery store, yesterday.”

“Uh.” Holy observant. “Well, let’s go,” I agree, much more willing now. “I’m starving.”

7

This burger is really good.”

Levi agrees, then takes another bite of his own burger. We are sitting outside, at a picnic table, and I am very grateful for the bright sun that’s helping fight off the chilly air.

I’d opted for a burger with fried jalapenos and some fries on the side.

“I have a hard time not coming here every day when I’m in town.”

“Is this the only location?”

“No. There are two in Toronto. But I don’t know. It’s not the same. Some places are best left enjoyed sparsely. With special circumstances.”

My head bounces on an agreeing nod.

“Do you often visit?”

“As much as I can,” he says. And I think that’s going to be the extent of his answer, but he just keeps on sharing. “Not as much as before, though. I used to spend every summer break here with my siblings. My parents would drop us to Kit’s as soon as school was over so we could spend two months running wild. To get away from the city for a while.”

Melancholy is oozing from his features.

I can perfectly imagine it; I feel his summers on my skin as if I’d been there. Lazy mornings every day. The smell of sunscreen from the thick layer that’s permanently lathered from your forehead to your heels. Fingers and toes wrinkled from hours spent swimming. Worn-out eyes from reading for long hours under a beach umbrella. Ice cream twice a day. Ending every day by watching the sun setting over the lake.

Jealousy squeezes my heart.

I listen to the reason my mind is listing: to me, this is a dream childhood, in complete opposition to mine. I put a green checkmark next to it. My reasoning for being jealous is sound. I silently sigh, and the feeling eases instead of turning into bitterness. My insides still feel ugly, from being envious over someone’s happiness, but it’s a step forward.

Again with the growth thing. At this rate, I’ll soon be over seven feet tall by the end of the year.

I catch up to Levi, who’s been chatting away, completely oblivious to everything that has just played out inside my brain. Amazing how we’re all just stuck inside our own minds.

“When I got my first grown-up job, I couldn’t spend the entire summer here anymore. But since I freelance now, I do come here more often and work from Kit’s home. Plus, my family always tries to visit every couple of weekends.”

“You said siblings. So it’s not just the little sister?”

Levi shakes his head. “I have an older brother also.”

A smirk pulls up on my lips. “Ah.”

“Ah, what?” Levi asks.

“You give such middle child vibes. I don’t even know how I didn’t pick up on it sooner.” He gives me a droll look. I hide my growing sneer behind a sip of iced tea.

“Do you have any siblings?” he asks around a sip of root beer.

Oh, right! That’s the thing about asking questions. It’s a game of boomerang. You throw one out, then it comes right back to hit you in the face, denting your facade.

My whole body tenses; it’s my default reaction when someone asks anything that nears the subject of family. Of childhood. Of life, really.

“No,” I say.