EXCERPT OF JADED HEARTS BY OLIVIA LINDEN
Central Park was streaming with choice in footwear . “ What ? Are you people clamoring to enjoy an kidding ? These are classic !” unseasonably cool Sunday in July and it was just like I imagined . There where people sunbathing ; playing with their pets ; jogging ; rollerblading , and just strolling along like I was at the moment
I just shook my head as we linked arms and set off to stake our claim to a blanket sized plot on the big lawn . We settled on a spot that was relatively less crowded and I watched as he set up the as I headed to meet John . I was in awe blanket , two pillows , a large thermos , of how green and lush the landscape hummus , crackers and chips with onion was compared to the cement and brick dip . metropolis that surrounded it .
“ Wow , you are really prepared ! I ' m
Once John found out that I hadn ' t |
impressed . What ' s in the thermos ?” |
checked it off my ' things to do in NY list ', |
He shot me a sly grin and handed it |
he insisted that we come here this |
over for my inspection , watching as I |
weekend . I spotted him walking towards |
opened it sniffed and tasted the mystery |
me looking like a college student , down |
drink . |
to the backpack he sported . His golden |
“ Yum , is this Riesling ?” I took |
hued hair was longer than usual , and was lightly wind tousled and he sported his signature sleeveless tee this time in white with red shorts and a pair of throwback Jordan ' s . Jordan ' s ? He smiled at me and I could only imagine I didn ' t look much different with my hair pulled back into a high bun , a snug white wife beater and coral colored shorts that stopped mid thigh and all white old school Adidas . We walked into an easy hug having spent so much time together lately that we were more than familiar . I pointed to his sneakers “ Nice kicks !” I joked . He glanced down quizzically at his another sip . “ Very good Ms . Spencer . You ' re a
lush after my own heart .” He teased .
covering each page of an old National
Geographic edition . Nerd ! A very handsome nerd though , and I could watch him all day . It was so cute the way his eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed slightly as he read . I found
I threw the top of the canister at him . |
myself wondering how his lips tasted . |
We spent the afternoon relaxing |
Just then he looked at me and I |
together . Sunbathing with a good book |
pretended to be just looking up from my |
is a very much underrated experience . |
book and he shot me a wink . |
Well , partial sun because it had grown |
Could he tell I was staring at him ? |
considerably overcast as we enjoyed |
I flashed him a smile . |
our picnic , which was probably what |
So what if I was looking ? |
contributed to the cooler weather . I |
Especially since I caught him |
reclined back on a pillow slightly |
studying me when he thought I wasn ' t |
perpendicular to John while using his |
looking . Often |
torso as a foot rest . My oversized |
. |
After a while he closed and pulled |
Channel shades concealed the fact that |
his aviators down . |
I had stopped reading the hilarious Abe |
Lincoln Vampire Hunter , and was |
“ So how ' s your book ?” He asked as |
watching him instead . He was intently |
he grabbed one of my bare feet and |
began to knead and rub . |