Have a Great Summer

Chapter 9 Then Fourteen Years Ago

Then

Fourteen Years Ago

I biked to my first shift thinking about Maren’s advice. As I pedaled, her words played on a loop in my mind, like the lyrics of a pop song I couldn’t get out of my head.

We won’t give him any airtime this summer.

A flash of Sebastian at the party, whispering in my ear.

It’s about the space he takes up in your mind.

His lips pressing against the rim of the plastic cup, where mine had just been.

You’ve gotta kick him out of there.

I eased to a stop, dropped my kickstand.

His eyes like sea glass, curls blowing in the breeze.

His voice this time: All right, Mariano.

All right!

I locked my bike and walked inside.