Read Online The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos - Free Book Online Page B

my favorite, the Greek combo with feta,
olives, tomatoes and artichokes.
    “And then, I thought it would be fun to watch
the sunset at The Point.”
    “Good idea.”
    “And then, a movie?”
    “That sounds perfect,” she said in a
purr.
    I never grew tired of hanging out with Sam,
even though we mostly did the same things together. She always
acted as if my ideas were something completely new. I liked that
about her.
    “Hey, pull in here,” I said as I pointed to a
little restaurant on the corner. “We need to get the movie
times.”
    The restaurant had a kiosk that held the News and Review paper right by the front door. Sam zipped
in, parked and jumped out to snag a copy.
    Sam sped down Main Street as I flipped to the
movie section. I couldn’t handle a romantic movie or a tear-jerking
drama and horror was completely out. Experiencing fear to the nth
degree once in my life was plenty for me. I scanned the remaining
short list of movies.
    “Okay, we’ve got Ghost Flight, Arial’s
Rampage, Ballad of Maria and –” I spotted a familiar title.
“How about The Bucci Brothers Revenge ?”
    “Never heard of it, what’s it about?”
    “It’s a comedy about two brothers who start a
business venture designing a line of purses, trying to compete with
Gucci. I saw a preview; it looked funny.”
    I bit my lip. A comedy with two gay brothers
couldn’t possibly have any romance I could relate too, if any.
    “If that’s the one you want, I’m game,” she
said, a chipper tone in her voice.
    “Are you being agreeable just to make me
happy?”
    “Jules, the goal tonight is to do what you
want. It’s your therapy, remember?”
    I huffed. “Yes, but…”
    “I promise, so far, everything’s been cool
with me,” she said with a grin.
    I let it go. Maybe if I stopped making
suggestions, she’d come up with something she’d want to do. I
didn’t want the evening to be all about me.
    My attention was diverted when I noticed the
temperature drop. The ocean view was just around the bend in the
road. I could visualize the majestic crystalline water. It was like
being reunited with a long lost friend. I took in a deep breath and
filled my lungs with the crisp, salty air. Something about the
beach always did that to me.
    “Wanna go to the cliff?” Sam suggested.
    She knew me too well. I nodded, smiling.
    She accelerated and I sat back, eyes closed,
feeling the warm sun on my face, trying to sing along to the songs
blasting out of her speakers. Even though I sounded completely
stupid and grasped at the words, I felt my heart heal a little.
    Within minutes, we pulled up to the familiar
dirt parking lot on top of the cliff overlooking the most pristine
beach, our beach.
    “You seem to be feeling better,” she said as
she killed the engine.
    “You know, I am actually. I think this is
exactly what I needed.”
    I gave her a big reassuring smile.
    “Good.”
    We relaxed in her car and watched the waves
roll in, crashing one by one onto the barnacle laden rocks. Sam
filled me in on the most recent gossip she just heard at school.
Apparently Katie asked Tyler for help with her Chemistry. He agreed
to meet her in the library after school, but when she got there,
Mandy came instead. He forgot he had practice and figured since
Mandy was acing Chemistry, she could help Katie. Katie was furious
and became the fastest pupil Mandy ever tutored.
    “Wow, I wonder how she remained civil,” I
said with a chuckle.
    “Well…” I sensed Sam’s compassion and felt
guilty for being so mean. “I’ve been trying to tell her to move on,
find someone else, like Erik or Logan McKay. They are both cute and
single at the moment.”
    I imagined her with another football player
and sighed. She wouldn’t have any trouble nabbing either of them
but I felt sorry for the poor guy. She’d only use him to try to
make Tyler jealous and then dump him when it didn’t work. She was
totally stuck on Tyler – like I was stuck on Nicholas.
    I