Page 20 of Begin Again

Up here the only sound was the light rustling of branches, the chirping of crickets and birds. It was so… peaceful.

At this moment I could not only imagine the freedom that I’d been longing for—I felt like I had achieved it, like it was filling me. The energy of life tingled through my body; I didn’t even feel my muscles ache anymore. A slight breeze tickled the ends of my hair. I was breathless.

“You’re not going to start sniffling again, are you?” Kaden asked with a hint of disgust.

I couldn’t answer. I had no words. Even my fantasy of pushing Kaden off the mountain had melted away. Instead, I released his arm and wiped my eyes with the sleeve of the sweater. It took a few seconds before my voice returned. “The sun is just blinding me.”

“It’s okay,” he said. He settled down on the rock behind me.

Carefully, I did the same, leaning back on my stretched out arms.

“The first time I came up here, I was just as blown away.”

“Did you get sun in your eyes, too?” I joked.

Kaden snorted. “In case you forgot, I’m a man.”

“Oh, really?”

“You mean you didn’t figure that out yet?” Kaden’s voice was so close to my ear that I could feel the warmth of his breath. Startled, I opened my eyes as he added, “Do you need proof?”

His sonorous voice triggered my goose bumps again; it had nothing to do with feeling cold. I swallowed hard. He was so close now that I could see every wrinkle around his eyes and the turn of his lips as he smiled.

“Is that what you always do up here? Give girls proof?” I asked and looked away. Damn Kaden, with his damn presence and his damn confusing comments.

“I’ve only ever been here with Ethan and Spencer. This was just your entrance exam,” he explained, sinking back on his elbows. He tipped his head back and turned his face toward the sun.

“And?” I asked, wrapping my arms around my knees.

He raised his chin a little. “And what?”

“Did I pass the test?”

Kaden’s expression was impenetrable. “I don’t know yet.”

We sat in silence for a while, and I let the beautiful view over the valley sink into me. I was proud of myself. Not just because I’d made it up the mountain, but in general. Because I’d made it to where I’d wanted to be for so long. This outing represented everything that had happened since I left home.

“Thank you,” I murmured. My eyes were burning again, but this time I could blink the tears back in time.

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