Page 55 of Under the Texas Sky
Are they talking to me?I tilt my head and look over my shoulder, not trying to draw attention, in case it's a serial killer wanting to trap me and hunt me for sport.
Someone in a dark jacket and tattered blue jeans is coming out of the house right beside Mitch’s. The beanie on their head obstructs my view, but their walk is familiar.
“Kian!” It’s Trent. Trent is the one calling for me, his soul reaching out to mine. He picks up his pace until he’s sprinting toward me.
I fully turn my body to watch him as he approaches. I expect him to slow down, but he doesn’t.
He crashes into me, taking us both down. He twists, so he lands on the hard ground and I land on top of him. He groans in pain and I try to get up, but he tightens his hold around my waist.
My face heats as his eyes take me in, our bodies pressed tightly together. Me inhaling every breath he exhales.
His hands brush back the curls that have escaped my ponytail, then he trails his finger down my cheek.
He doesn't ask me what I'm doing, or why I'm here. Instead he smiles up at me. "You’re so beautiful,” he remarks easily.
“Can boys be beautiful?” I throw his words back at him from that time in the park. The moment that my crush turned into something more.
Trent doesn’t say anything, but his wide smile speaks for itself. We can save the talking for later because seeing him and the small puffs of air from the cold weather with every one of his exhales, I know that we can overcome anything.
Together.
CHAPTER 47
KIAN
16 years old
Trent slides into the seat beside me in science class, and I bite my bottom lip to hold in the smile that wants to blossom on my face. We both agreed it would be for the best if people don’t know about our relationship right now. Not only would it bring drama, it would also get back to my dad, and I do not need him knowing. Life is finally going well for me, and the last thing I need is for him to come in and mess it all up.
Trent bumps his leg against mine, trying to draw my attention away from the board at the front of the classroom. Our teacher always puts hints up about what our experiment will be for the week, and I like trying to figure it out before he announces it.
“Ki,” Trent whispers, nudging me again.
“Yeah?” I cut my eyes over to him and watch as he fidgets in his seat. His fist is tightly closed around something.
“I have something for you.”
“What is it?” I have something for him, too, but I was planning to wait until after school so we could soak in the moment together.
One official month we’ve been boyfriends. It’s flown by. Our days are spent after school talking about our plans for the future, what we want to do, where we want to live. He’s been writing mepoems, too, and I love unfolding each and every note. It’s our secret, to protect and nurture.
He says, “A surprise. I’ll give it to you after class.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Then why did you have to tell me about it now? You know I’m not patient. I want to know.” I pin him with a look, and he smiles, showing off the gap between his two front teeth.
“That’s exactly why I did it. To build suspense.”
Our teacher leaves his desk and walks to the front of the classroom to stand in front of the chalkboard. “Okay, class. For today’s lesson we will be…”
An hour and two failed experiments later, we’re finally dismissed from class. The warm air rustles through my curls, blowing them in my face. Trent pushes them back and tucks them behind my ear while we walk back to the main building. I brush the back of my hand against his, thankful that everyone else left class before us so they don’t see how close we are.
“You jerk, my hands were shaking so bad,” I tell him. “Give me my gift now.” It’s true, my hands were shaking so bad during the experiment that I knocked over the beakers. Our teacher made a joke about me having butter fingers, but the truth is my heart was beating out of my chest with anticipation.
Trent chuckles and hikes his bag higher on his shoulders while he walks. Not acknowledging my demand for my gift.
“I’ll give you yours if you’ll give me mine,” I say.
His dark brown eyes cut toward me, the bright sunlight reflecting off them and giving them an amber hue. “What did you get me?”
