Letting Go
Page 13
Chapter Thirteen
Sarah
JOEY’S HOUSE WAS spectacularly impeccable. It was more refined than the Towson mansion, and the inside felt more sterile than anything Sarah had ever seen before. It was like a prison. A beautiful, luxurious prison.
However, Sarah and Zach weren’t inside for very long, enough time to meet Rosie the housekeeper while they awaited Joey’s presence.
When he did appear, Sarah stifled a laugh in her throat. She had to cough from making the laughter too obvious, because Joey was taking each step down the spiral staircase like he was a king. He had slicked his jet-black hair back and wore the ultimate preppy boy style. His loafers squeaked against the steps. Sarah smiled at the boy, who was smirking at her like he was a god.
He lifted a hand in her direction, and she shook it, surprised at how comfortable the shake had been. Then he reached down and pressed his child’s lips to her skin, and leaned upward, his left eye catching hers in a fanciful wink. Beside his sister, Zach coughed.
“You must be the one I’ve been long awaiting for, Miss Sarah Towson.”
“And you are Joey,” said Sarah, placing her hands at her side.
“Follow me outside to the cupola, where Rosie has prepared us rosewater and tea sandwiches. I hope you do not mind if we don’t drink tea. Currently, we are out.”
“No problem whatsoever.”
As they followed Joey through the intricacy of his home to the back porch, Sarah stared at Zach and started speaking to him in murmurs, but Zach shrugged and followed his buddy. Sarah knew it already: Joey was romancing her.
They went to the cupola, which overlooked a verdant garden and koi pond, plus an infinity pool. The backyard was atop a mini-hill, which offered a glimpse of sparkling sea on the horizon. Sarah stared at it with awe, wondering if she could walk through the trees and be at the ocean by nightfall.
“We want your stay to be as lovely as possible,” chirped Joey, as he poured some water into a windblown glass at Sarah’s fingertips. He handed her the glass and brushed his fingers against hers. “Don’t we, Zach?”
Zach nodded. “Joey loves parties. He’s always raving about them.”
“Is he now?” Sarah said, though it sounded very grown-up of her to say something like that. She took a sip and responded, “This is really good. Thanks, Joey.” Rosie was already gone, per the instructions of Mr. Twelve-year-old Prep.
Joey sat down, crossing his leg, on a patio chair. The cicadas’ chirping in the underbrush added to the soundful breeze of the evening summer sunset, which eclipsed itself on the plentiful abundance of growth. Flowers of every color were stroked like brushes on a masterpiece, and it was all at the trio’s fingertips.
Joey, however, had his eyes on one thing, and one thing only. She was more beautiful than he had supposed she would be. She was like a dainty summer sun, and he wanted to touch his lips to the pink ones she possessed. Her thick hair was parted like a lion’s mane, but hers was groomed and respectable. Her eyes were the blue he had imagined for his wife, and she even had a refined, classic touch to her personality, like Zach.
Joey should have known that by judging Zach’s characteristics, Sarah would be similar, and Joey approved of Zachary Towson. Even though they were best friends, Joey respected Zach, and deep down, he knew Zach would make the better man.
However, Sarah was the one who captured his attention at this moment. Beautiful, musey Sarah. The girl he would take to the church dance. The girl he would woo for the rest of his life if he had to. And he could, he could. He’d won a few contests at summer camp. He was known as the kid with gills, although he hated swimming, and in reality, he hated water. It was just a matter of winning the competition, so he could prove to everyone around, I am the person of your dreams.
Now, as he sipped on his rosewater and acted ten years older, he felt a stirrup clomp on his heart when Sarah asked, “Now, what do you like to do?”
This is the question he had been preparing for. He could tell her lies, like how he’d been in some movies when his family lived in Hollywood (and they had lived in Escondido, just a few miles down the road). He could say his dad was a retired astronaut and he’d spent his childhood summers studying abroad on the Greek island Mykonos; instead, he decided Sarah was an honest person, like Zach, and therefore would appreciate the truth.
“Well, I enjoy sunbathing on golden strips of beach. I like traveling, collecting baseball cards, and playing croquet with my Aunt Emma, who happens to be the only specialized doctor in her field in all Georgia. Also, I really enjoy…” At this, he smiled, sifting a hand through his inky hair. “I enjoy romance. It is my forte, I have to add.”
“Romance?” Sarah cocked an eyebrow. “You enjoy romance?”
“I’m quite a romantic at heart. I love the ladies, what can I say?”
“Joey, you are twelve.”
“And a half.”
“Isn’t that a little young for ‘the ladies?’”
“Sarah!” Zach hissed.
Joey leaned forward, sticking out a tan hand, inching it closer to Sarah’s. He loved a challenge. If Sarah made it harder for him, so be it. He would pursue recklessly, no matter the cost. “Is anybody too young for love?”
“I think so, yes,” Sarah said, crossing her legs now. She was pondering running away or listening to the little sage. But with a quick glance in her brother’s direction, she understood it was best to sit here and listen to Joey’s mania. He was only twelve, and he obviously had a little crush.
“You do? Well, I am living proof that youth and love can coexist.”
“Joey,” Zach inserted himself, “I thought when I brought Sarah over, we’d play baseball or something. Not whatever this is.”
“Baseball sounds fun,” Sarah added, desperate for anything except this impromptu date, or whatever it happened to be.
Joey narrowed his eyes at Zach, before saying with a beat short of enthusiasm, “Well, let’s play baseball, then. I will need to change into the appropriate attire, however. I will be back, Miss Sarah.” Then he rushed away.
“What the heck!” Sarah hissed as soon as Joey was safely inside.
Her brother lifted his palms in similar confusion. “Honestly, I’ve got no clue. Do you think he likes you?”
“Somehow, I believe he does.”
THAT NIGHT, UNDERNEATH the canopy of the guest bed, Sarah flopped on her side, staring out at the dark night coursing in through the window. A lightning bug glowed outside as the sound of crickets buzzed in the darkness. It was close to twelve o’clock, and she’d been in bed for thirty minutes. Of course she thought of Zach and his friend Joey, who was flirtatious but fun while playing baseball, but really, the person who stole her thoughts was a tall guy with longish brown hair, lying brown eyes, and a pierced heart. Too bad she found herself already falling for him, without the slightest reason why.