Page 4 of Sand in My Boots

So much so, I’ve completely forgotten where it was I was going before running into them or what I was supposed to be doing.

Oh, right. Nothing pressing because I’m taking a break until the badminton tournament.

I’m barely past the front doors when footsteps sound behind me.

“Wait up.” I don’t have to turn around to know it’s Juli, but I do all the same. It would be rude to keep walking, even though the wise choice would be not to listen to her. She stops right in front of me, her hand resting on my arm. A jolt of electricity sizzles through, a feeling I haven’t experienced in what feels like forever. “Hey.”

I can’t help the laugh at her greeting. “Hey.”

“Don’t tell Preston, okay? I want to surprise him, make him take me to dinner, but I need to see the look on his face when I do it.”

I can’t say no to her earnest request. Among other reasons. “Sure thing, Jude.”

Her brows raise. “Wow. Talk about a blast from the past.”

I take one step closer. Not wanting to scare her off, I don’t say all the things I want to say. There’ll be a time and place for that. Hopefully. But I lean in a little closer. “It’s only fair. Since you still won’t let the ‘Came’ go, will ya?”

I wasn’t entirely sure it’s what she said a few minutes ago, but the way her breath hitches confirms it for me. It definitely shouldn’t elicit the feelings being stirred up inside. Not then, and not now. She’s still Preston’s “little” sister. Lines shouldn’t be crossed.

Not again.

Beats of tense silence surround us. I’ll wait her out, wondering how she’s going to answer my question. If she’ll answer my question.

Juli’s the first to break the silence. “Honestly, I haven’t given much thought to the nickname in over a decade. But seeing you, it popped out. Though I’m not ashamed. Are you?”

There’s a silent challenge issued in her question. I’m not sure what to make of it.

“I don’t remember you being so rebellious.”

“Maybe it’s because I wasn’t that memorable.” Her voice catches at the end, a hint of surprise she uttered the comment. To make up for it, she stands a little taller, trying to stretch beyond her petite height. Squaring her shoulders, she holds her finger out in front of her. “Not a word to Preston. Can I trust you to remember that?”

Damn, Juli Langley grew up to be a firecracker. Why did I ever lose touch with her?

“Yep. Scout’s honor.” I hold up four fingers, an homage to our pledge from the STEM camp where I first met Preston.

“Right. I should probably get back to my friends. But I want to catch up. I’m here until Monday morning. Wedding’s Saturday. Fit me in before I need to recover from a massive hangover, k?”

Without waiting for an answer, she struts away, her hips swaying slightly, the arms of the tied hoodie swinging by her sides.

As a teenager, she brought out a different side of me. I didn’t have to be the funny one when she was around. I could let my guard down and be myself, but I couldn’t let her know I was attracted to her. I had nothing to offer her, a girl who was born into wealth and every luxury her family’s money afforded her, while I was the scholarship kid. But for one night, beyond the walls of her family’s pool house, she wasn’t ever the wiser. I made sure of it.

My friendship with Preston changed once we aged out of the program, though we stayed in touch. I wouldn’t be here if I had completely lost touch. His sister was a different story. Not often, but there are certainly times I wonder what she’s up to. Mostly when Preston mentions something about his family or home, my only connection to his sister.

“Hey.”

A new voice pulls me out of memories of the past, though my eyes remain staring straight ahead. Juli’s long disappeared into the resort, but she’s left her mark.

“Hey.”

“Where’s Zane working today? You have time to grab a bite?” Silas, another owner and our operations and marketing manager, asks.

“Marsh & Garden. And yes.”

My position hasn’t changed, and he waves his hand in front of my face.

“Fall off the jet ski again?”

That garners my attention. “No. Fuck off.”