Page 98 of Cloudless
Confusion pulls at Posey’s brows as Jasper vibrates next to her. “Our birthday isn’t until tomorrow.”
Ellie laughs as she comes around the side of the house with an arm full of grocery bags. “We wanted you to have your present early, Posey-Pop!” The plastic bags crinkle as she drops them by her feet. Her smile never wavers, even as she rubs the redness from the bags digging into her arms. “What are you waiting for? Go check out your new gift while we get the s'mores ready!”
Twilight descends around us as they race toward their gift. They leave a trail of laughter in their wake as I add motion detection lights for the backyard to my to-do list.
Mace points an accusatory finger at my sister as he races to catch up with the twins. “You better have gotten the good stuff, Ellie. No more of this cheap, barely considered chocolate.”
Ellie rolls her eyes even though Mace has already turned his back to her. “Of course I did. You’ve made me a chocolate snob, Mace. I’ll never forgive you for it.”
Mace’s laughter mixes with the giggles flowing from the twins as they explore their new domain. “I can live with that!”
The last time I saw Lila bathed in firelight, all I wanted to do was kiss her. To claim her as mine for all the world to see.
Now, as I watch the light dance over her face, the reality that I can just reach over and kiss her anytime I want hits me like a freight train. And I’ve never been one to waste an opportunity.
Jasper and Posey’s giggles mixing with the laughter of our friends drifts through the wind. The gentle sway of the swings and an occasional scuff of a shoe against the slide fades into the background as my eyes trace the outline of Lila’s lips.
I anchor my hand at the back of her neck as a surprised gasp leaves her lips with the contact of my heated skin. Her soft lips mold to mine as I fight the groan threatening to rise in my throat.
My need to deepen the kiss is overwritten by the awareness of our audience. The chill in the air isn’t the cause of the chill bumps that flow over my skin as I end the kiss far too soon.
The back of my throat burns as I suck in a deep lungful of cool air.
Her eyes roam over my face as embers from the fire ascend into the darkness to be swallowed by the stars. “What was that for?”
Her hair falls through my fingers like silk as I release her neck. “I just wanted to kiss my girl.” I raise my brows as a smirk pulls at my lips. “That alright with you?”
She mirrors my smile as she drifts closer on the blanket we’ve claimed next to the fire. “It’s perfect.”
The warmth from her cheek seeps through my clothes as she settles her cheek on my shoulder to watch the flames dance to their own beat in front of us.
The cracks in a log near the bottom of the pile glow red and orange with the flames that infiltrate its core. An unexpected sense of camaraderie fills me as I watch the log grow weaker until it finally releases its hold and gives in to the crushing weight of the logs above it.
When this semester started, the weight of my father’s legacy felt as consuming as the weight of the logs. The expectations forced upon me since before I could walk felt like flames dancing in my core.
Now, with the intensity of Lila’s light and the strength of her heart, she dims the burn of my father’s legacy. She lessens the toll of the expectations that have always seemed so crushing, despite my constant fight against them.
For the first time since I slipped a pair of ice skates on my feet, I feel like I can take my first full breath. Like my lungs aren’t fighting against the crushing force of the circumstances thrust upon me. Like the only thing expected of me at this moment is to be here with these people. Withmypeople.
The burn and the toll are still there, but they don’t seem as important now. Especially not compared to the girl resting her cheek on my shoulder, and the two little kids playing on their swing set.
CHAPTER 46
RIGHT THING
KAM
There’s glitter on me. I can practically see it floating in the air as I settle in my seat. I’m not sure I’ll ever be free from it again.
Shrill giggles and fake personalities assault me from all sides as I realize I really don’t belong here. There’s only one person who could convince me to sit in this waiting room, and there’s five minutes until her class is over and I can get the hell out of this place.
Classical music drifts through the air as little girls in ballerina outfits swarm the room like bees would their hive.
Jasper’s leg brushes mine as he tries to avoid the snotty toddler in the seat next to him. Maybe if her mom wasn’t glued to her phone, the poor kid wouldn’t have snot stains all over her shirt.
Loud chewing draws my attention to the blonde coming to a stop in front of me. Her eyes roam over my body as a massive, pink bubble blocks half her face, only to pop all over her lips. Her hand lands on her hip as she pushes her chest toward me. My eyes never stray from her face, even though her low cut top is directly in my eyeline. “Hi, there! Can I help you? I’m pretty sure I would have remembered seeingyourface around here.”
I have to fight to keep a neutral expression on my face since she apparently never learned to chew with her mouth closed. “No thanks. We’re all good here.”
