The Curse of Redwood (Ivy Grove #2) - Jaclyn Osborn Page 0,26
as quickly as it’d appeared, the scene faded and I found myself standing on the sidewalk again.
“You okay, man?” Taylor asked, his brow furrowed. “You spaced out there for a second.”
“Y-Yeah, I’m fine.” I grabbed the book and held it to my chest. “Thanks for letting me borrow it.”
“Let me know what you think,” he said. “Where were you headed?”
“Nowhere really. Just enjoying the day. I’m ready for fall.”
“Same. Bring on spooky season.”
“Spooky season?” I asked with a laugh. “God, you’re a dork. No wonder Rich is your best friend.”
“Totally gonna tell him you said that.”
“You’ll probably see him before I do,” I said, rubbing at the back of my neck. College had started for the semester, and Rich had to cut back on his work hours to fit in with his busy course schedule. I hadn’t seen him much over the past two weeks.
Taylor motioned to the coffeehouse. “Wanna grab a drink?”
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those pumpkin spice freaks,” I said, opening the door and causing the bell above it to ring. The scent of coffee beans and cinnamon wafted toward me, and my stomach growled, a reminder I hadn’t eaten lunch yet.
He chuckled as he entered the shop behind me. “Hey, don’t judge me. That shit is like fall in a cup.”
“You’re such a white girl. All that’s missing is the yoga pants.”
“And long hair so I can wear it in a messy bun.”
I snickered and approached the counter. The barista greeted me with a smile before rattling off the drink specials. I ordered a vanilla latte and a cranberry scone before paying and moving aside so Taylor could order. He got an iced pumpkin spice coffee in the largest size they had and ordered two lemon cake slices to go with it.
Once getting our food and drinks, we plopped down at the table against the window. We had a view of the sidewalk as people passed by.
“How are classes going?” I asked, before taking a sip of coffee. “College started back up, right?”
“Actually…” Taylor wiped his mouth. “I dropped out last semester. Been kinda embarrassed to tell many people.”
“Hey, I didn’t even go to college, so I have no room to judge. But you seem like a smart guy. What happened?”
“Don’t know,” he responded, after swallowing a bite of his lemon cake. “I partied a lot, so maybe that’s what did it… but I don’t know. I just lost motivation. I dropped out and started working with my dad.”
“What was your major?”
“English lit,” he answered, then laughed at my shocked expression. “I told you. I love reading and writing. I wanted to be a high school teacher. English has a bad rep, and I wanted to show that it can be fun. Did you think I was gonna say football or something else jocky?”
“Yeah. Sorry.” My cheeks heated, and it had nothing to do with the hot coffee in front of me. I absolutely hated when people assumed crap about me just because of how I looked. And there I was doing it to him. “If it means anything, I can definitely see you being a teacher. You have the temperament for it.”
“Thanks.” He shoved the rest of the cake into his mouth, his cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk. “I’m a firm believer in following my gut. College didn’t work out, but I know I’ll find my calling soon.”
“Great attitude,” I said, before taking sip of coffee. “You’ll find your path eventually.”
The conversation got me thinking about my own life. I shifted my gaze to the window as a couple walked by. The man rested his hand at the woman’s lower back, and they laughed about something. They looked so happy.
Was I happy? I honestly didn’t know. I loved my life, but there were nights when the loneliness crashed down on me.
“What about you?” Taylor asked, drawing my attention back to him. “Do you like your job?”
“I love it,” I said. “I’ve never really had dreams of being anything. And I have no talent or hobbies. I’m just ordinary.”
“There’s nothing ordinary about you,” Taylor responded, a half-smile curving his lips. “But enough of this serious shit. Tell me what the hell’s on your shirt. I see you wear that crap all the time. Who’s that white haired dude and why does he look so badass?”
“It’s from Tokyo Ghoul, my favorite anime,” I explained. “The guy’s name is Kaneki.”
Conversation with Taylor never felt strained. The discussion flowed without seeming forced. Long after we finished our