This girlknowshow to make me smile.
34
HOPE
This isthe best date ever.
And it’s not because we’re at a place I’ve always wanted to visit, but I’m with the guy I love.
Heath and I spend hours at the aquarium, studying the sea creatures and wandering around as we explore the aquarium. We make a quick stop at the cafeteria and grab ice cream. Heath gets blueberry and I get chocolate, and then we make our way to where starfish are in a touch tank in an array of colors and patterns and rest quietly on the rocks. Instructors stand nearby, offering guidance on how to interact with the creatures while emphasizing the importance of being gentle and mindful.
I inch closer to get a better look when a guy’s elbow swings in the direction of my face. Before it can make contact, Heath catches it and gives him a hard shove. The guy turns with a mean glare.
“What?!”
Heath traps me against the tank, with his arms on either side of like a barrier. Looking at him, with a flare of anger in his burning blue eyes he says, “Keep a good fucking look around yourself. Your elbow was about to hit my girlfriend.”
The low, rough tone of his voice makes the guy swallow. He’s shorter and skinner than Heath. If they were to throw punches, there’s no doubt Heath will do serious damage to him.
Without a single more glance, he scurries away from us.
“Asshole,” Heath mutters under his breath.
Since I’m wrapped up in him, I hear him so clearly. “Maybe it was an accident.”
He brings down his face to my right so he can look at me. “Don’t see the good in people. Some are just fucking bad.”
A rope tightens around my gut and tugs hard.
I’m sure he only meant that in the content of that guy, but I can’t help but think about my parents.
I see the good in them because I love them. Is that wrong?
I love them so much, but why does it hurt?
“Do you want to touch them?” Heath asks, breaking down my thoughts.
It takes me a few seconds to utter the reply. “Um, no…”
He frowns, and studies me with his curious eyes that saw right through me since day one.
“Want to get out of here?”
I slowly nod, leaning my back against his chest.
We stay like that for a few minutes, watching the starfish then move as the crowd gets thicker around the tanks. Everyone seems eager to feel the starfish, but I’m not. How I see it is, they look calm being alone. They don’t want wandering hands on them, a touch that would disturb them. They just want to be.
Heath interlocks our fingers and maneuvers us out of the crowd safely.
At the exit there are many gift shops that are overflowing with souvenirs.
My gaze drifts over the shelves—everything looks irresistibly cute. Then, it lands on a star necklace and for some reason I can’t look away from it.
“Do you want to eat? I know a great place—Rose, are you listening?” Heath gives my hand a squeeze.
I shake my head, bringing my gaze back to him. “Yes. You were asking?—”
He looks in the direction where I was staring and watch as his eyes narrow in thought. They seem to be searching for something.
