Page 123 of Hide and Keep

“Yeah…” I thought it was sad actually, but obviously I was wrong. Munreaux Manor has everything anyone could ever dream of. Excluding school, Ever has no need to leave it.

She busies herself with the sound system, putting on “Jealousy” by FKA twigs and Rema.

Her natural blush is gone, as is her uniform—at least the skirt and top. She’s in another pair of briefs, these ones black…along with a sports bra. Essentially, she’s down to her underwear, while I’m not but wishing I was.

Jesus. It’s hot in here all of a sudden.

Glaciers. Frozen lakes. Icicles. All cold shit.

A sneaker in her hand, Ever leads me out to the middle of the floor.

“Whose shoe is that?” I ask, eyeing the shoe skeptically. It looks like a guy’s.

“Mine.”

“You don’t wear shoes like that.”

She shrugs. “It’s still mine.”

I take the sneaker and give it a closer inspection. “Did you add these?” On both sides, around the black logo, are intricately drawn bees.

“Yes.”

“They’re really good.”

Color fills her cheeks again.

Without acknowledging the compliment, she slips the shoe from my hold.

“All right. Let’s start with the basics. As a base, you need to lift with your legs, almost like you’re doing squats with your weight in your heels. Your core has to be tight, endurance on point. And never, ever take your eyes off the flyer.”

Putting her fist in the shoe, she holds it up for me, sole-side up, the toe closest to me.

“Now, to grab the flyer—”

“Why do you keep saying ‘the flyer’? Just say you. You’re my flyer. You’re who I’m doing this for and you’re the only one I’m ever gonna do this for.”

Ever pauses, her eyes locked on the shoe.

“To grab…me, you’re going to use your palms to catch my feet, and you want to cover as much of each foot as possible.”

She awkwardly demonstrates how to grab the shoe’s sole for me to copy. I think I’ve nailed it until she starts moving my fingers all around, then she places her soft palm over my knuckles to show me how to grip the sides. The size difference is laughable…until she guides my pointer finger with hers, her fingertip brushing along the length of my long digit, then nothing’s funny at all.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. My athletic shorts won’t hide shit if I get hard right now.

Antarctica. Avalanche. Snowballs.

My balls. Hitting Ever’s chin.

Jesus.

My grip on the shoe tightens so much I can feel Ever’s fist inside it.

“Good. Keep your index finger level with the heel.”

I nod stiffly.

Ever takes the shoe and tosses it aside before giving me her back, only a few inches in front of me.

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