Page 58 of The Lost Kings
“That was exactly what I needed. How can I ever repay you guys for taking me twice in a week?”
I smiled at her and tugged on the bottom of her shirt; it showed her purple bra strap, and more of her shoulder, but she didn’t seem to notice as the three of us turned and started back toward the car. Her hand suddenly wrapped around mine, and I returned the gesture. Glancing to the side, I saw she was holding Kingston’s as well.
She would never understand that she was the sun to both of us.
For me, she was the brightest star in my universe, and for Kingston, she was the light that drew life from the ground. She meant more to us than she was supposed to.
“I know you guys just did me a solid and helped me through this horrible week, but I wanted to see if—” She stalled and slowed down. It forced us to slow with her and then turn as she stopped completely.
Her blue eyes were downcast as a flush of red lit up her narrow cheekbones.
“What is it, ¿mi reina?” Kingston asked, using his free hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear.
Her flush deepened again, and I wanted to remember this moment when the sun lit up her face and made her hair look like there were little strands of gold woven through it. Or the flush in her cheeks from the happiness she felt around the fluffy cows. This was Presley being happy, in her most natural state, and I was starved to see her like this more often.
“It’s just…um, I was wondering if you guys could help me maybe meet someone in school. I’m embarrassed to even ask, and I know we can’t act like we know each other in person, but maybe if you know someone who you could introduce me to and maybe say I’m your cousin or something?”
Fuck. Why did she keep coming back to this?
Kingston let her hand go and took a step away. “You want to be kissed that badly, you’re willing to have us set you up with someone?”
Presley tried to release my hand, but I wouldn’t let go. “Just answer the question.”
She looked a little shocked as she tugged to be released again. “It’s something that’s important to me.”
I shifted so she was forced to step closer to me. “But why are you so set on it, Elvis? What will kissing do for you?”
She finally tugged her hand hard enough that I let her go and she started walking back to the car. “Just forget it.”
Kingston and I both took long strides to keep up with her. “Explain it to us.”
She crossed her arms over her chest but continued toward the car. “No, just forget I said anything.”
We were right behind her, and the second she reached for the door handle, I grabbed her belt loop and pulled her back.
“Just wait a second.”
Tears gathered in her eyes, and it tore at me in a way that nothing ever had. It was like Presley was evolving into a completely new person, and I had no idea what to do with her.
Kingston moved behind her, opened the door, and pushed the driver’s seat forward. “Get in the car, Presley.”
“No, honestly at this point I want to walk.” She raised her chin and shifted away from the door.
I had yet to release her, so I led her back to the car by the back of her jeans. “You don’t have a choice, Elvis. Get. In. The. Car.”
“Fine!”
I let her go right as she darted for the opening. Once she was inside, I shut the door and then stared at my brother from where he moved to the opposite side of the car.
“You getting in or am I?” Kingston asked.
My fists clenched tightly as worry gnawed at me. I knew exactly what would come next. It was a humming in my blood, an echo in my chest of something I’d wanted for years but had never caught or examined. Like a loose butterfly in my chest that finally landed somewhere that I could inspect it.
Swallowing the thickness in my throat I replied, “I think we both know neither of us can get in there.”
Kingston paused then shook his head. “Don’t really think either of us has a choice.”
My eyes snapped up, meeting his. We silently glared at one another in challenge.
