Page 31 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
I dip my head back in his direction. “Yeah.”
Carter leans against one of the poles of the metal triangle. With his arms crossed at his chest, his gaze follows me as I move back and forth, floating higher, then lower.
“Your sister lives with you, right?” he asks.
“Yeah, it’s her first year of college, and her dad refused to let her live in the dorms.”
“Makes sense. College guys are a breed of their own.”
“Oh, don’t I know?” The wind whips my hair against my face. “My mom’s wasn’t an option either—because, well, it’s my mom. So, I offered to let her move in with me for the next few years.”
“That’s nice of you. From the conversation I overheard, she seems like a handful.”
I start to slow down, feeling more relaxed. “You have no idea.”
Once I’ve come to a stop, Carter walks behind me. It’s cold outside, but when his hands cover the top of mine, I notice how hot his skin is. His elevated temperature travels up my arm and then back down the entire length of my body.
He lowers his lips to my ear and whispers, “Want a push?”
My skin tingles under his words. I slowly nod, refusing to move from this position.
Carter releases my hands, steps back, and gently shoves me. His palms meet my lower back, and then let go. I slowly slide through the air, letting my head tilt upward. The clear sky is now jet black and filled with tiny, sparkly stars. I don’t think anyone has ever pushed me on a swing. Maybe one of the many nannies we went through during my childhood. But none are worth remembering. And why does something innocent and simple like this feel soforbidden?
“Were you two close growing up?”
“Hmm?” I’m lost in peace. If I hadn’t known we were in the middle of the city, I would have thought we were on a deserted island, just the two of us. The sensation of the cool breeze wraps around me like a chilled blanket.
“You and your sister.”
“Oh. Zoe?” I feel my cheeks sting. “We didn’t grow up together. I was older by the time she was born. And then, I moved out of the house right after high school.” A wave of guilt for leaving Zoe with my self-centered mother rolls over me. They moved away briefly when she was in middle school after her dad was transferred to Oregon for work. It wasn’t long after that he and my mom divorced, and they returned to Arizona. Ironically, that’s when my dad got out of the Navy and returned.
“I see.” Carter’s voice is low.
It’s getting colder outside, and I unintentionally shiver.
“Are you cold?” he asks, clasping his hands around the chains to slow my movements.
“I am. We should head back.” The swing slows, stopping me right inside of his arms. They clasp the chains on either side of me. My back becomes flush with the front of him. A tempting taste of what it would feel like to be captured in his arms.
“Probably a good idea.” His lips are only inches away from my cheek before he steps back, letting me get off the swing.
My teeth start lightly chattering. Fuck, we still have to run back.
“Here.” Carter slips his hoodie over his head and hands it to me.
“It’s freezing, I can’t take that from you.” We both startwalking toward the sidewalk and back toward the hotel.
“I’m not cold. I run hot anyway.” He spreads open the bottom and lifts it over my head.
“Are you sure?” I raise my arms, letting him put it on me. It’s warm, comforting, and a little tight on top of mine. My nostrils breathe in his scent.
He stands in front of me, holding the white strings. “Of course.”
Our eyes lock for a brief moment, but I break away. “Thank you. But this isn't going to make me want to run back.”
“I didn’t think it would.’ He smiles, pulling down the s of his black cotton shirt.
I wonder if he’s disappointed I was assigned as his partner and not being someone better. Maybe one of the other flight attendants, who is more in shape, would want to run back with him. Or one that he wouldn’t have to feel obligated to give his sweater to when he should be using it to keep himself warm.
