Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“What are your parents like?” asks Sean as we walk.
I glance at him curiously.
He kicks playfully at the sand, hands in his pockets. “I know what you’re like. I wonder what they’re like.”
“Hmm. My dad was easygoing. My mom, less so, but she was the one who kept him anchored and balanced.”
“Did they run the bar before you did?”
I nod. “It was my dad’s pride and joy. My mom did the books. I learned everything from them … but I think I took a lot of it for granted.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean …” After a thought, I shrug. “I was young like you once, y’know. Young and springy and … as horny as an animal. I’ve told you about it.”
“So?”
“So I didn’t take my life seriously. I played too much. I just wonder if I … maybe should’ve listened to my parents more when they were around.”
“When they were around …?”
“Oh, sorry. No, they’re not dead. Grandma—my dad’s mom—got too ill to take care of herself, so my parents had to make the difficult decision to move to Florida to help out, trusting the bar to me. It was a while ago.”
“Do you wish they hadn’t gone?”
“I miss them, if that’s what you mean. But I was happy to take over the bar. My parents were ready to retire.” I walk up to the water and stop, letting the waves rush over my feet as I gaze out at the horizon. “Sometimes, I come out here, right up here to the shoreline, and I look out there and … and pretend I can see them way across the Gulf of Mexico. I pretend they’re waving back from that distant west coast of Florida.”
“They must be proud of you.”
I glance at Sean, who has come up to my side. I realize who I’m telling all of this to. He has none of the parental connection I just described. Not even a dream of it to cling to. At once, all my thoughts and feelings from last night flood back into my mind like storm clouds.
I put my arm around Sean and pull him to my side. He loses his balance a bit and has to cling to me for support. “You are one special guy, Sean. Don’t forget that.”
“Am I?”
“And I’m proud of you.” I rub his side. “I feel like the luckiest man in the world, to have gotten to see you bloom the way you have this summer. I want you to chase all your dreams, each and every one of them.”
“Do you ever wonder what people think of us?”
I frown at him. “No.”
“Well, I do.” Another wave rushes in to cover our feet, then gently recedes. “Even right now, I wonder if there are people on this beach, people behind us, who look at us and think I’m, like, a twink with a daddy fetish. Or if they take a look at you and judge you, thinking you’re some lonely man who plays with jailbait …”
“What? No.”
“Or what if they think we’re actually father and son? Is that weird?”
“Where is this coming from, Sean?” I turn to him. “Did someone say something to you?”
He sighs. “Never mind.”
“Tell me. I’m not mad. Just tell me.”
“I’m just thinking too much, that’s all.” He looks up at the sky, takes a breath, then sighs again. “I’m just thinking too much and ruining our day off.”
“If someone said something to you, or if someone on the island is making you feel a certain way …”
“They’re not on the island.”
“So someone did say something?” I press on.
“Just forget it. Please. Forget I said anything. It’s just the little ugly creature inside me talking.” He slips out from under my arm and continues walking. I stare after him for a moment. He stops and peers over his shoulder, suddenly appearing cheery. “Hey, I was thinking we could go to the taqueria for lunch today. Maybe ask how Mars is doing.”
I don’t know how I’m going to get it out of him.
How can I help Sean if he won’t tell me what’s up?
For now, I drop it. “Of course.” Then I catch up to him, and off we go, continuing our stroll down the beach.
Taqueria Tía Juanitas is a hot spot at the far end of the boardwalk, right on the corner, visible from the causeway leading to the mainland. With tables sprinkled out on the boardwalk in front of the restaurant and a beautiful yellow-and-white-striped awning extending out from the front door lined with exotic plants, it’s a place that easily attracts customers with an appetite for the best damned Tex-Mex in the state. We take an outside spot right by the water, with a large umbrella that only covers half our table thanks to the odd angle of the sun, but the view is too beautiful to resist. I get the pleasure of listening to Sean moan and squirm as he enjoys his fajitas, which were brought out sizzling with their mouthwatering, savory aroma.