Candles

21 | D E N I A L

WE WALKED IN SILENCE AS the wind blew and the saltwater made its way to our bare feet. We held ice cream cones—one in each hand—and our hands were covered with it. Children screamed as they constantly ran in and out of the water. Their parents followed to make sure nothing bad would happen to the little ones they loved so much. I wanted nothing more than to be a child and not have to worry about paying bills or anything of the sort. 

Greysen licked some of the ice cream off of his hand and asked, "So, favorite color?"

"Emerald green," I answered almost immediately. "Not a single shade lighter and not a single shade darker."

"That was a very specific answer."

I shrugged my shoulders, "I like being specific."

"Favorite movie?"

"If all of the Disney princesses were combined into one movie, that would be my favorite movie. No doubt about it."

"So, what? I'm assuming you don't have one at the moment?"

"Not at the moment," I sighed, suddenly wondering when I last stepped foot into a movie theater.

"Maybe that Disney princess movie dream of yours will come true one day."

"It needs to happen immediately."

"Agreed."

We made ourselves comfortable on the sand and I licked the melted ice cream off of my hands. Greysen was already more than halfway finished with his first cone and he was about to get started on his second. I, on the other hand, have not had a single bite of either of my cones. I was too busy thinking about why they did not hire me at Fred's Diner. I was too busy thinking about what would happen if I was unable to find a second job. Thinking was all I ever did now and it was bothering the hell out of me. 

I glanced around the beach to see other people sitting on towels and blankets. I looked down at the sand and wished we had brought something of the sort. While everyone else was somewhat safe from the sand we were sitting on it, letting our thighs bake against it. I was still thankful for Greysen bringing me here. Instead of taking me home, he decided to cheer me up and it was working a little. 

"Thanks for bringing me to the beach and buying the ice cream. I'm having a really good time."

"Me too," Greysen said, shoving the rest of his cone into his mouth. "Except, I brought you here so I could get to know you better but I feel like we're still in square one. You're a hard person to get to know, Sydney Evans." He had managed to get ice cream on the sides of his mouth and I chuckled softly to myself. 

I moved my hands away from my dress as some of the ice cream dripped from its cone, "Well, that's the point. You're not supposed to figure me out."

Greysen looked at me and for a moment, I was unable to read him. He looked slightly confused but his eyes were looking me all over. It was as if he knew I was hiding something but he was trying to figure out what I possibly had to hide. I looked like someone who grew roses in their garden for a living and got suspicious whenever someone looked at them a certain way. Slowly, Greysen licked his ice cream and looked me over once more before opening his mouth. 

I expected him to confront me about hiding something but instead, he nodded his head and said, "Deep."

"Shut up," I said and playfully shoved him with my shoulder. 

"They're stupid for not hiring you," he said, causing my smile to disappear. "I bet you'd be great there. I mean, if you can handle working with Harry and Clare, you can handle working anywhere."