Page 19 of Cloudless
A shy smile tilts Kam’s lips as the breeze blows a strand of hair over his brow. “Can I walk you to your car?”
I smile down at my feet as I nod. “Yeah, Kam. I’d like that.”
Kam sticks right by my side as we walk toward the parking lot. His towering presence provides an odd sense of security on my normally lonely walk.
I’ve missed the serenity that comes with being comfortable with silence in someone else's presence.
I always enjoy the ever-present chatter that comes with living with two seven-year-olds, but the absence of companionable silence has been felt since my parents' passing.
My mom and I used to sit together and read at least a few times a week. My dad would often sit in the room with us, typing away on his laptop.
We didn't need the complexity of words to enjoy each other's company.
I slow my footsteps to prolong the short walk to the parking lot. An awareness of every breath and scuff of Kam’s shoe against the sidewalk has my heart pounding in my chest.
A surprising sense of loss at the prospect of parting ways with Kam washes over me as my car emerges in the distance.
Silence stretches on as I toss my backpack in the backseat. The gentle close of the door is amplified to that of a slam in the stillness that blankets us.
Roots grow from my feet into the pavement just outside of the open driver's door as my fingers dig into the top rim of the window.
I feel the slight shift of the car under my palm as Kam leans his elbow on the top of the roof behind me.
Gravels crunch under my feet as I turn toward him. It seems like a felony for the shadows of the overhead trees to cover so much of his face.
His relaxed posture is in such striking contrast to my rigid stance, it’s almost comical.
With a tilt of his head, the full depth of his chocolate eyes peer into the deepest recesses of my mind. “What’s your story, Sunshine?”
My body threatens to buckle under the weight of my grief as I shake my head. “It’s not a happy one, Kam.”
“Trust me with it, anyway.” He continues on like he didn’t just shatter another layer of ice that’s strangling my heart. His smirk can’t hide the seriousness of his eyes. “Look over my resume. I’m serious about my application.”
I swallow, my mouth suddenly feeling dry in this August heat. “I will.”
“Good.” He pushes off the car and straightens. A mock-seriousness forces his smirk to fall. “I expect you to text me any questions that arise during your consideration.”
My mimicry of his seriousness fails as a smile breaks through my attempted stern expression. “Of course, sir. It would only be fair.”
His smirk resumes its rightful place as he backs away like he can’t bear to look away. “I’ll see you soon.”
I hate the shyness I hear in my voice as I say, “See you soon, Kam.”
A tightness pulls at his shoulders as he turns away from me. My eyes never leave his back until he disappears from view.
Scalding heat rushes over my face as soon as I lower myself into my seat. I curse myself for not at least turning on the air conditioner so the car could cool down while I watched him walk away like a stalker.
The car shakes violently as my knee slams into the steering wheel as I hastily twist my body to reach my backpack in the backseat.
I can’t wait to forget how I got that bruise.
My zipper makes a groan of protest as I rip it open in search of a certain folder that contains a very important piece of paper.
My hurried motions slow as I open the folder. I pull the paper out of the sleeve with a sort of reverence I would never show a school assignment.
Kam’s name sits boldly at the top of the page. Questions flow like a steady stream through my mind as I read through his words.
So, I do the only thing anyone would do in my situation. I pull my phone from my pocket, and I type.
