Page 85 of Mark Us Little Bear
I glance at Ronnie and can read his expression—the longing in his eyes. The love he cages to protect his heart. The pain he felt when his world crumbled. And it hurts me to know Amber feels just the same. They’re so alike in that way. But they are finally letting go of that pain.
We squish her tiny body between us, “Can we kiss you?”
Sniffling, tears glide down her cheeks and mix with the raindrops. “Yes,” she nods, “I want you to kiss me more than anything right now.”
I don’t know who presses to who first but our mouths roll together. My hand finds her throat and Ronnie tugs her hair back. Little moans are captured in my mouth as I suck her tongue while Ronnie trails kisses down her neck and starts nipping a spot loudly.
I get lost in the song. In them. In the roaring sound of the pouring rain.
We switch and I take the other side of her neck while they kiss all the pain in each other and heal it too.
“How do we make this work between us?” She whispers against his lips.
“We just open our hearts and let each other feel,” I answer. “Let’s go home.” I take her helmet and fix it for her before I pull mine over my head.
“Helmet kiss.” She tips her head back and I press my helmet to hers, keeping our eye contact as I do so. “Good boy.” Amber smacks my visor down so I smack hers and then we smack Ronnie’s together.
“Oh, don’t worry.” He fastens the strap as he straddles the bike. “I’ll smack your asses when we get back home until you beg me to stop.”
Amber
“Run Bear.”
The ball hits my chest and my hands reach out to tuck it there as I sprint smoothly across the grass toward the end zone.
“Touchdown!” I wave my hands and jut my hips from side to side, doing a tiny dance before I make a beeline for the house. “See you guys later.”
“Those little legs are fast,” Bradley says, sliding his ball cap on my head as I pass him. It’s flicked backward and exudes his spicy scent.
As I cross the street and head to my parents’ house, my phone pings and a smile immediately rises.
Dad
I made you cheese and potato pie.
I quickly type and the Morrison’s dog barks as I pass their gate. I’m glad he wanted some alone time with me before I leave.
Amber
You’re the best, I’m two minutes away.
Kat is sleeping at her friend’s house but promised to come in the morning to say goodbye and Mom is out with her book club friends, which makes it the perfect time to have a night with one of my favorite people.
I twist the handle, and my mouth waters as I walk inside, letting the smell of creamy cheese marinate me.
“There’s my girl,” Dad runs to me with the oven gloves and apron still attached to him, “It’s to die for.” He throws his large arms around me.
“I’ll let it kill me softly with each bite.” I hug him so tight, needing to feel him a little more. Despite talking to him every day or at least every week, I haven’t seen him in a year—that is the hardest part, but I know he wanted to give me space to figure things out.
“Want to eat it on the roof like old times?” Dad asks, ushering me to the kitchen where a strawberry cheesecake rests on the counter.I swear he can read my mind.“Seeing the smile pop on your face when you saw it was worth the hustle.”
“I wanted a cheesecake two days ago and you made me one so how can I not smile.” I plunge two spoons inside and grab the glass pan on both sides while Dad grabs the potato pie. “Let’s go.”
We slowly exit the window from my room and steady each other as we lower down and place the food on our laps.
“Isn’t it hot?” I point to the Pyrex.
“No, it’s been out for thirty minutes I was just thinking in the kitchen until you came.” He takes the spoon I hand him. “Thanks.”
