Page 52 of Lessons in Falling
They were probably too blindsided to comment, but I could hear their chatter loudly the second I disappeared out of sight.I just didn’t care enough to stay and listen, because thirty seconds later, I carefully opened the door to our room, unsure what to expect.
Half of me was convinced Valentina would simply forget last night happened, and put so much distance between us— physically and mentally and spiritually and any other way she could find—that I’d start to think it was just some deluded dream I’d play over and over in my head a hundred more times.The other part of me hoped.For what, I didn’t know until our eyes connected.
Valentina sat at the small desk opposite our bunk beds.Her eyes moved away from the notebook in front of her, and her entire face lit up despite the fact she was probably trying hard to hide it.The corners of her mouth curled, her eyes widened, and she blushed.
And, apparently, it was exactly what I’d been hoping for, because I mirrored her every action.Down to the fucking color in her cheeks.
Hi,she breathed, and I finally closed the door behind me.Dumped the sandy blanket in a corner and promised myself to remember to wash it later.I’d probably forget.Half a second later, I stood behind Valentina’s chair, and tried to play my fast-beating heart off as casual.I wouldn’t know what else to do with it.I’d never had to deal with that.
Hey,I said.How’d you sleep?
Good,she swallowed thickly, and I could feel my smile growing when she emphasized,Very good.
My eyes flicked from her face to the notebook she’d been leaning over a minute ago.Her summer bucket list beamed at me brightly, and it really only hit me how much time had passed when I realized most of the items on it were scratched out.Done.
sleep outside
go for a run
full-moon walk
skinny dipping
break a law
watch the sunrise
sex on the beach (Not the drink)
play pool
I huffed, feeling kind of sentimental about the whole thing.It wasn’t evenmylist, so I steered away from the feeling.What law did you break?I asked in amusement.Public indecency?
Apparently, this was the wrong thing to say.Her lips twitched first, as if she wanted to laugh, then remembered it wasn’t funny.For a moment, I honestly thought she was about to lecture me on why breaking laws wasn’t a laughing matter, before making me promise not to seduce her in public places again (I couldn’t do that, I’d be lying).
Instead, she shook her head and ignored my comment.Her eyes flickered across me restlessly until they focused on my neck.We need to do something about that,she said as she got up, like I hadn’t said anything at all.She lifted her hand, let her fingertips graze my neck.
I nearly shivered underneath her touch.My knees almost buckled and the wind almost got knocked out of my lungs.Really.
Huh?I unnecessarily tried to turn my head, but it only left us closer.Only left my lips a hair’s breadth from hers, if it weren’t for the height difference between us.She looked up at me, then trailed her fingers across the same spot on my neck again.
Apparently I’m sixteen years old again and leaving hickeys behind.Sorry.She scrunched her nose and her lips thinned into an apologetic smile.
Territorial much?I joked, and she punched my arm— somewhat playfully.But at this point you should know I have no problem with that.Mark your territory, if you want to.We both knew she wouldn’t purposely do that, not with her friends around.Not when I was still nothing but her little secret.
Stealing a glance at the mirror above the dresser, I quite liked the look of it, though.I think it might just be the factthat it was proof last night really happened.That it had happened, and she hadn’t disappeared again.
Another laugh bubbled out of her, and Valentina rolled her eyes.You’re my territory?she asked, doubtful.Aren’t you free as a bird?Tied to nothing and no one but yourself?You’re not anyone’s.
I could be yours.
The thought was so brief, I almost paid no mind to it.Then, it scared the fuck out of me.
I couldn’t really be anyone’s—I’d neverbeenanyone’s.Probably because after Alison, the thought of loving someone and then losing them had been enough of a deterrent, I kept every girl I’d ever talked to at arm’s length.I’d built walls to keep my grief in, and posted guards at the gates to keep people out.
Only that Valentina had snuck past them easily.My guard hadn’t been up, and she’d slipped right through the cracks.Long enough ago that I was considering beinghers.That the thought came naturally, and the implications only followed after long consideration.
Long consideration in which I hadn’t said anything, by the way.I blinked back into the present: Valentina standing in front of me, her hand still on my neck, fingers dancing across my skin absentmindedly.What was the last thing she’d said?
