Page 12 of Kindred Lies
February 10,1953
Easton asked me to attend the Valentine's Party with him. Hannah's family throws it every year. Her mama believes in the importance of love. At least that is what she has always told me as to why they have the party every year. It makes me wonder how Hannah can be so sour about the subject. It's obvious that her parents adore each other. Every time I mention Easton she tells me that he doesn't really love me. How could he? We've only known each other a week. She just doesn't understand. I fell in love with him the moment my eyes laid on his. Hasn't she ever heard of love at first sight?
I won't let her negativity influence me. I can see how Easton looks at me. He doesn't need to tell me how he feels. I can see it in his eyes every time they fall on me. Hannah is just jealous that I found love and she hasn't. Maybe once she finds love she won't be so down on my new relationship.
“Marianne seemed soyoung and naïve. I understand both sides. Love can be a fleeting emotion and perhaps Hannah was attempting to protect her friend, but I’m not sure that was it at all. How could she have been so cold toward Marianne? I would have never been so dismissive of any feelings my closest friends have. If Marianne believed Easton loved her then Hannah should have supported that…” Amethyst voiced her thoughts regarding the journal entry. She glanced up at Cooper. He seemed so close... Her hand was shaking a little and it knocked the journal toward him. She reached out to catch it and her hand brushed over his. It surprised him and he jolted back knocking the book to the floor.
“Oh I'm so sorry I didn't mean to do that.” Anxiety was etched through her voice.
She had a worried look in her eyes as she started to get up to retrieve it off of the floor. He stopped her and pulled her back down on the couch. He knew he needed to reassure her that it didn't matter. The book survived this long and a little spill onto the floor wouldn't harm it. “It's fine. The book isn't damaged. Relax okay.”
She nervously started to twist her hands in front of her as she said, “I know. It's just that… It's important. To you and to me, I didn't mean to make it fall.”
Cooper pulled her hands into his and asked, “Amethyst why are you so nervous?”
She stopped for a brief moment and looked up into his eyes. Her green eyes had a glaze of fear...and embarrassment in them. What was she afraid of? It couldn't be him. He didn't want her to be scared. He wanted her to run to him not in the opposite direction. “You'll think it's silly.”
He shook his head at her and said, “I promise I won't. Tell me what's going through that head of yours.”
“I've never… I mean I don't spend a lot of time with you know…”
She started to fidget even more and pulled away from him trying to put space between them. He couldn't let her start to back track now, but he had to know what was going through her head first, “No. I don't know. What are you trying to say?”
She sighed and slowly raised her eyes to meet his and said, “I'm a loner. I had front row seats on how to be that way. I watched my mother make a mess of her life. I promised myself I'd never be her.”
He nodded his head at her and said, “I guess I get that. I just don't understand how that applies to what is going on right now.”
She folded her hands in her lap and mumbled, “Boys bother me.”
Surely he didn't hear her right. Did she just say that boys bothered her? “What did you say?”
With a sound of exasperation leaving her mouth she looked up at him and told him with her eyes what she couldn't say with her voice. Being around him made her uncomfortable. He needed to do something to change that because she meant a lot to him already. So he looked at her and asked, “Am I making you uncomfortable? What can I do to change that?”
She shook her head and said, “No, its not you. It's me. Honest. I've always pushed people away because I knew that I'd have to leave eventually. It hurt too much when I had to leave friends that I just decided to quit making any. I find that I want to get to know you though. I just need you to be patient.” She waved her hands as she said, “I don't do well…with all of this.”
That made a lot more sense. Okay he could deal with that. He lifted his lips upward and smiled warmly at her. “I'd like to get to know you better too.”
She leaned in closer to him and their eyes met. He needed to kiss her. He pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. They were soft and sweet just like he knew they would be. She moaned and swayed closer to him and opened her mouth. Cooper wanted to feel her lips again and lowered his mouth to hers while lightly tangling her tongue with his. This was all new to him. Not kissing, but kissing her. It was both overwhelming and exhilarating at the same time. Pressing his lips against Amethyst’s could only be described as holding a piece of heaven and simultaneously having iridescent lights dance behind his eyes. It dazzled, sparkled, and left him wanting more.
