by J. Bengtsson
She looked up from a little blond-haired admirer and beamed at me, “Are you good? Is it too much?”
“I’m great. It couldn’t be more perfect.”
She walked over to me and put her hand in mine. Overwhelmed with affection for this woman, I pulled her into my arms. This was my chance. We were in a warm embrace, gazing adoringly into each other’s eyes. There could not have been a more perfect time to tell her I loved her.
“What does this smell like to you?” My brother interrupted the most intensely romantic moment of my life to thrust a round, smelly bath balm under my nose.
“What the…?” I whipped around.
“I seriously think there’s pot in this thing. They say its hemp seed oil, but I’m not buying it,” Jake whispered, conspiratorially.
“We’re going to have ourselves a bath tonight,” Casey sang out.
“Casey, please, we’ve talked about your singing,” he responded with a straight face.
And just like that the mood was ruined, making me regret inviting those two along in the first place. A woman in a Victorian-style dress and fancy headpiece hurried up to us. “Kenzie, Kyle… Would you follow me? The parade starts in a few minutes, and your float’s ready for you.”
Casey looked on in amusement. “Damn, this just gets better and better.”
“You can’t make this stuff up,” Jake agreed.
Leaving the others behind, Kenzie and I were led down a few side streets until we came to the row of parade vehicles. For a town this size, I was sufficiently impressed with the number of participants. It seemed there would be no one left on the streets to watch. We passed a wide assortment of vehicles until the swanky hat lady stopped at ours. We’d been given the pimp spot, and it was no wonder. Our float was a goddamn masterpiece. Someone had painstakingly recreated our home away from home. The island was sitting on the back of a flatbed truck. In the center was a replica of the tree I’d climbed so many times. Purple fruits hung from the papier mâché branches.
“Did you know about this?” I asked her in amusement.
“Not this!” she replied, as wide-eyed as I was. “I knew we’d be in the parade, but this goes above and beyond. You’re not mad, are you?”
“Are you kidding? I love it. Do we have to strip down?” I asked. “Because I totally will.”
She laughed. “I think clothes are preferred on this island.”
I helped her onto our private oasis and then gamely followed her up. As the parade began, so did the syrupy music. The strange song blared from the speakers on top of our float… and played on repeat.
“What is this awful song?” I asked, grimacing when it started for the third time.
Kenzie blushed. “It’s the theme song from Blue Lagoon.”
“Of course it is,” I shook my head, grinning. “Man these people sure know their reality shows.”
“You aren’t kidding. I’m embarrassed,” Kenzie said. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. This is awesome,” I yelled over the music. As pathetic as it sounded, I was giddy with excitement as we rolled through the town practicing our princess waves to the enthusiastic crowds below. It was more than just a corny parade to me. Instead it was an opportunity to relive a slice of my childhood that I’d missed out on. Only twelve when life turned dark, I’d been following a jaded path ever since. Kenzie helped open my eyes to a different way of life, simpler and full of possibilities. It was what had attracted me to this woman standing beside me- the one who was happily blowing kisses into the wind. I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to me.
Startled she looked up at me. I took her face in my hands and kissed her for all the world to see. Okay, for maybe just a tiny slice of the world, but still the intention was clear. I wanted everyone to know how I felt about this girl, and the crowd roared their approval.
“What was that for?” she replied breathlessly, her eyes sparkling with joy.
“I love you, that’s what it’s for.”
J. Bengtsson is an emerging author of young adult biographies. The Theory Of Second Best is the second novel in the planned four book series based on the characters from Cake. If you would like to be on a mailing list for updates on future releases, click http://eepurl.com/chhhbX
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Book Three in the Cake Series will feature…
Emma
Love binds a family together. Tragedy rips it apart.
The McKallister family has secrets… and Emma knows them all.
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Also by J. Bengtsson
Cake: A Love Story