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After spending days with his grandparents (and his brother), it felt like a miracle seeing someone close to Sean’s age. And at Beaver Creek, which felt like a sleepy village, with old people and maybe some families with kids. And now, at the Christmas market, there was a young girl. She was playing a guitar and singing, and Sean wanted to talk to her so badly.
She was pretty, had a nice voice, and she was cooler than anyone Sean had ever seen before. Her hair purple, dreadlocks and shaved sides… if his life hadn’t turned upside down, Sean would barely dare to even look at her, feeling like a loser just thinking about talking to someone like her.
But now everything was different, and even though he was still nervous about just standing there and staring at her, he felt compelled to be there.
Not only did she seem cool, but Sean also missed the company of someone who was the same age as he was. He had spent a few months with Daniel only, and he loved his little brother, of course, he did, and their grandparents had been great too. But he also missed his friends. Lyla, Eric, Jenn… he even missed the assholes in school and would probably welcome even their company with open arms.
He got to talking with her eventually, trying not to cringe at how awkward and uncool he probably seemed to her. Daniel showed up, and even though it was really lame, Sean was sort of grateful about it. Trust Daniel to make friends wherever he went and so easily.
Suddenly, a guy showed up and asked something from the girl who had just introduced herself as Cassidy. He talked to Cassidy, and Sean took in the dreadlocks, piercing, and tattoos on his face. He felt intimidated and wondered if he was Cassidy’s boyfriend. It would make sense for her to be with someone who seemed as cool as her.
The guy noticed Sean and Daniel, and Sean saw how his gaze moved from his hair to his toes. And then back to his eyes. Sean lifted his weight from one leg to another. Was the guy judging him? Wondering why a loser like him was talking to his girlfriend, probably…
He turned his gaze back to Cassidy and said, ”Dibs.”
Sean frowned and glanced at Cassidy, wondering what the guy was talking about.
”Really, dude? Dibs?”
He grinned and nodded. ”Dibs.”
His blue eyes met Sean’s, and he winked. Sean nearly stumbled even though he was standing still, and for whatever reason, he felt his cheeks heating up.
There was something about the look in the guy’s eyes that Sean couldn’t quite place. The way he kept looking at Sean up and down, with that very intense gaze.
Sean even turned to look at Daniel, to see if his brother had some idea about what the two of them had just talked about, or what was going on in general, but Daniel had noticed the dog that had followed the guy. And whenever Daniel saw a dog, he didn’t notice anything or anyone else.
Soon enough, the two of them left, and Sean tried to shake off the confusion about the random meeting. He had other things to focus on, like how to get to Puerto Lobos, and besides, it seemed unlikely that he would ever see them again.