Belief in Miracles (completed)

Chapter 24: Sebastian

24 Sebastian

It was called Tory's Tubular Taco's, and Tom and I had been frequenting the place since we were in high school. It had a sign on the front door that promised a free taco to anyone who could properly say "tubular" with a California surfer accent, and I grinned as I noticed Summer staring at it with a curious frown.

"You are so not gonna do that." She said when she caught me looking over the worn sign.

"Just wait." I promised, and she narrowed her eyes at me.

Tom held the door for us, and I let Summer enter ahead of me. A moment later, a waitress I recognized from over the years approached us with a broad grin.

"Hey guys, ready to fail once again?"

I mocked offense as Tom laughed. "Now when have we ever outright failed?"

The waitress, Sadie, arched a brow. "Shall I count?"

Though still grinning, Tom shook his head. "No. We'd be here all day."

"Okay," She said, and turned to set an armful of menus on a small table to her right before crossing her arms. "Let's hear it."

Tom went first, and I laughed out loud as his pastor self did a horrendous Californian tubular impression. Sadie shook her head, but she was smiling as she turned to me.

"Bas?"

I gave it my best, much to Summer's humiliation, and the enjoyment of the crowded dining room patrons. Sadie laughed before giving me a no-go, and I put on my best disappointed face as I turned to Summer with raised brows.

She met me with absolute horror. "No way."

"Come on, give it a try."

"Forget it."

"Summer... please? For me?"

Though she audibly growled, we watched as she bested us both, earning a full round of applause from Sadie and the rest of the crowd. Her cheeks were flaming red, melting right into her hair as she bowed, her face half hidden by her hand.

"That was the best one I've heard this month!" Sadie applauded. "For that, you get two tacos."

"Yay, me..." Summer murmured, her face still aflame.

I wrapped an arm around her as Sadie led us to a table by the widow, then sat next to Tom to take the seat across from her. Immediately, she propped her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands.

"I can't believe you made me do that." She grumbled from beneath her fingers.

Her face was still red when she lowered them to lean a cheek against her fist. The sun caught her hair and set it ablaze, temporarily scattering my thought-out response as I beheld her beauty.

"Well, you certainly beat us." Tom said when I didn't answer. "I daresay you've been raised in surfer country."

Summer shook her head. "Only if central Florida counts." She looked up when Sadie brought our drinks, and sipped slowly on her iced tea. "I've actually only been to a beach twice in my life."

"And you grew up in Florida?"

"Central Florida." She repeated. "There's a whole lot of nothing in Jacksonville but palm trees, heat, and the same day-to-day nonsense as anywhere else."

Tom huffed, and I blinked as he nudged my shoulder, turned to glance at him when he frowned. "You alright, Bas?"

"Yeah, sorry." I blurted, and took a long sip of my water.