Page 59 of Wish For Me

“Is that what we are?”

I laugh nervously. “Are we going to go right there?”

“I know you’ve been thinking over what to tell me. It was all over your face earlier.”

My heart pounds. “You’ve always been able to see right through me.”

“I thought you were going to tell me you didn’t want to see me anymore.”

The words are a gut punch, and I desperately want to take them back, even though I never said them.

“But now…” Leif runs a thumb along my jaw. “I don’t think you’re thinking that now.”

“Some part of me is, Leif. Some part clinging to logic says we shouldn’t. That it’s too hard to keep doing this once a year thing.”

“I agree.”

“You do?”

“Yes. Let’s not keep doing it.”

My breath catches.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he says, sliding his hands down to either side of my neck, his thumbs on my jaw.

“What’s that?”

“You want me to kiss you.”

I laugh softly, but it gets swallowed up by my sudden need for him. Deep and rich and thick, consuming me like fire. “You got cocky up there,” I say. I’m teasing him, but my voice is unsteady. He has all the power right now, and I’m weak for it.

“Tell me I’m wrong, Noelle.”

I shake my head, then he drops his lips to mine.

CHAPTER17

Leif

When I pull away, Noelle blinks, as if her line of thought has been shattered by my impulsive move.

“Was I right?” I ask, brushing hair from her temple.

“Yes,” she says, reaching for me.

But I catch her hands, pressing them against my chest. “Noelle, I don’t want to gloss over what it was you were thinking before. But I can’t help the feeling that it was going to be goodbye, and I couldn’t let you do that before telling you how I feel.”

Noelle’s face is tight with something—nerves? Concern? “Tell me, then.”

“I had a lot of time up there in space, in between reading instruments and taking measurements and doing all the things we needed to do to make the trip a successful mission. Everyone said I wouldn’t have a moment to think about anything at all, that it would be a blur. But I did have a moment. A million little moments, and in each one of them, I thought of you. Knowing you. Kissing you. Being with you…”

“Leif,” she says softly, pressing her palms to my chest. Even through my sweater they sear me.

“I thought about the way you get excited when you talk about the things you love. The way you tease me about being a space nerd.”

She smiles, her eyes growing wet.

“I love how you care about an old ghost story, and how my family loved you before they even met you.” I cup her face again. “I know you said once that it was too hard, that you just want to be friends. But Noelle, I can’t exist in this world with you and just be your friend. I came back to earth needing to tell you that.”

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