Chapter 52 #2
I smiled as I read Theo’s card. At the time, I’d been annoyed and figured he was mocking me. I’d almost thrown it out, but now I realized that Theo loved the challenge as much as he complained. It was a nod to my prowess that he expected me to give him a run for his money.
Sorry about the library. Merry Christmas
Liam
He really was a man of few words, but I had a feeling he knew more secrets than anyone else. He was always listening, and I’d spotted him standing in a corner quietly observing more than once.
Ren
I’m so freaking sorry for everything. I get why you don’t want to talk to me, but I’m begging you to at least let me apologize in person when I’m back from holiday. If nothing else, please accept this gift card to the bookstore. They will deliver to Wayward. Merry Christmas.
Blake
I read over his card a few times, and now that I knew him better, I could feel the emotion pouring out of each word. He’d more than made up for it, and the massive stack of books I’d been able to get with his gift kept me from going stir-crazy.
Smiling as I watched the collage come together, I turned my attention to Myles’s card, which still made me laugh. It was so him.
Snowflake
Wishing you a Christmas full of smiles. You deserve it after working so hard.
There was a scribbly line through the wording and a sad face that looked like a reindeer.
Ugh, that was terrible. Why did I write that? Now, this card’s a mess.
I’m an idiot. Let me try again.
I doubt that I will ever be normal or worthy of you, but what I do know is that you will always be the other half of me.
Merry Christmas
Myles
He was adorable. There was no other word for Myles, and he could make me smile on the cloudiest of days.
I placed the card near multiple crazy selfies of us making faces.
Last was Nash. Picking up his card, I stared at the words, and my stupid heart thumped harder like he was staring at me through the card.
Princess
I’m always watching you. Sweet Dreams.
N
“Ass,” I muttered but stuck it into place beside a picture I’d found of him in the school newspaper. He was standing poolside at a tournament, completely focused and yet the most relaxed I’d ever seen him.
I quickly put the completed collage into the frame that Myles had gotten for me and set it on my shelf. The smiling faces and chaos suited them and us. There was nothing normal about Wayward, and I could only hope that senior year didn’t bring more crazy surprises.
B lake
I should’ve worn something dressier. I stared down at my jeans and hoodie, cursing myself for not wearing something more appropriate for a first date. We were only going to my favorite spot on the property, but that didn’t matter.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“What’s wrong?”
I spun around at the sound of Ren’s voice and lost all ability to speak as the sun hit her face, making her eyes glitter in the warm light. Long strands of hair were blowing around Ren’s face, even though most of it was piled on top of her head in a twist.
“Um…nothing…I, ah…I just left something at home. You look beautiful,” I said.
“It’s the hoodie you gave me and jeans.”
“I know, but I love it on you,” I said, and like clockwork, her cheeks pinked. I held out my hand, and she slipped hers into mine, and all the nervousness floated away. “I already have everything set up.”
“What exactly are we doing?”
“I want to take you to my favorite spot on the property, and I packed a picnic. Well, if I’m being honest, my mom helped me.
I would’ve brought the whole fridge, but she said that was over the top.
” Ren laughed, and her entire face lit up.
It was what drew me to her right from the start. “Thank you.”
She looked at me, confusion swimming in her eyes, and I didn’t know if I could explain what I was feeling.
“For going on a date with you?”
“No, for forgiving me. None of us deserved to be forgiven for what we did, and I could blame it all on Nash, but that would be a lie. I went along with it, and I participated in the bet of my own free will. I want you to know that at night when I close my eyes, I still see the terrified look on your face in the library, and it guts me every time.” She gripped my hand tighter.
“I think we are long past that by now. Don’t worry about it anymore,” Ren offered, but I shook my head.
“No, I never want to forget it.” With a gentle tug, I brought us to a stop, and those silver eyes of hers had my pulse pounding out of control.
“I don’t understand.”
I looked up at the trees as the wind rustled the leaves above our heads.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing thoughts that were threatening to spin out of control.
I’d never been so nervous. I could feel Ren staring at me.
Her inquisitive nature would already have her coming up with a million possibilities as to why I was standing here saying nothing like an idiot.
“I never want to forget the look on your face because then I’ll never forget how lucky I am that you gave me a second chance.
” I cupped her cheeks and ran my thumbs over her soft, silky skin.
“I’m falling in love with you, Ren. I couldn’t describe the feeling if you asked me to, but there is a deep, raw knowledge in my soul that we were meant to meet.
As crazy as it is to be dating you with Myles—something I never saw myself doing—I would say yes a million times over just to have a moment like this.
” She smiled, her eyes filling with unshed tears.
Before she could say she felt the same or not—for the moment, I didn’t want to know—I dropped my lips to hers.
Even though it was a huge leap, and she could tell me she didn’t and never would feel the same way, for however long this kiss lasted, she loved me.
Her lips were tender beneath mine, and she radiated warmth.
Ren made me feel everything I’d been suppressing, but was no longer scared to face.
Her touch made me brave. At least, that was how it felt to me, and no matter what came our way, I would protect her with my life.
I could taste her salty tears, and I licked them off her lips before opening my eyes to stare at her pink, swollen lips. She was so tempting, so fucking tempting all the time.
“You don’t have to say it back, but I wanted you to know, and….”
“I love you, too,” she said, interrupting me.
“What?”
“I love you, too,” she said again. My heart jumped from my chest, and I wanted to sing. Leaning in again, I poured everything into a quick kiss.
“We better get to the picnic site before the animals carry our lunch away.”
“Are you all packed for tomorrow?”
I really wasn’t sure that this trip was a good idea. Ren’s father had acted so sketchy, and my mom only said that she couldn’t say anything, which wasn’t like her. She was the first one to preach honesty and openness, but I couldn’t crush Ren’s excitement.
“I am, although I’m not looking forward to an economy flight, that sounds horrible.” I knew I sounded spoiled, but I figured I was safe since no one liked flying economy.
“I’m sure you’ll survive. It’s not a long flight.” She laughed as I made a disgusted face at her. “Oh wow, Blake, this is beautiful,” Ren said on a gasp.
We rounded the bend, and the path opened to a gem of a spot.
Very few ventured here, preferring the lake, and no one was coming today on the last day of school.
The large pond was a great location for bird watching, and there were already a handful of swans and ducks going about their business while other more elusive birds sang at us from the trees.
I’d laid out a couple of blankets and even had a cliché wicker basket from my mom.
“I wanted this to feel like a scene right out of a classic movie.”
“You accomplished that and more.” Ren picked up the thick bouquet I’d gotten and closed her eyes as she breathed in the delicate fragrance. “I can’t believe you did all of this.”
I sat down and tugged at her hand. She laughed as she dropped into my lap. I stole the opportunity to kiss her again and didn’t let her up for air until we were panting. She gripped my arm as I cupped her cheek and trailed a line of kisses along her jaw and down her neck.
“Are you hungry,” I softly whispered in her ear and smiled as she wiggled in my lap.
“Famished,” she said, as sweetly as any songbird.
Swinging my legs open, Ren slipped down to sit between them, and I pulled over the basket.
“She made us some incredible subs. There is a turkey club, an Italian, and a roast beef with provolone. Or there are salads, and I have fresh fruit and veggies and dip with two different crackers,” I listed off as I dug through the basket.
“You really did bring everything. I’ll take the turkey, please.” I handed it over and pulled out an option from all the drinks.
“This is incredibly sweet,” she said as she bit into the sandwich and then moaned. A lustful shiver went down my spine, and I quickly focused on something else to keep from rolling us over and blanketing her with my body.
Grabbing the two sets of binoculars, I handed her one and proceeded to point out the birds swimming along the top of the water.
“Do you know what that one is?” She shook her head.
“That colorful guy is a Wood Duck, and the pretty brown one with the white ring around her eyes is his mate.” As Ren watched them, I listened to the different calls that sounded like an orchestra to me.
It was easy to pick out the Black-capped Chickadee, and as soon as I saw one flit about before landing on a branch nearby, I tapped Ren on the arm and pointed it out.
I whistled the song of another native bird that I’d seen here all the time, and Ren looked over her shoulder at me.
“How long did it take you to learn that?”
I shrugged. “Not long, really. I started calling the birds when I was little. I’d say that I was talking to them.” She smiled wide. “Even back then their songs were music to my ears and I picked them up easily. I know around a hundred bird songs now and can mimic them all.”
Her mouth dropped as her eyes opened wide, the look stroking my ego. “That’s incredible.”
“It’s not a common hobby, and I haven’t found anyone else from the school out here, so it gives me alone time to calm my mind.
” Ren gripped my hand, but I didn’t want this date to turn into something sad, so I quickly pointed out another bird.
“That is a Dark-eyed Junco. It was the second call I learned, and I’ve had one come and sit on my knee when I sat still enough and sang their song. ”
“Who are you?” Ren shook her head, her eyes filled with wonder. “Seriously. I mean, I know that you said you were wearing a mask, and you came off as this hotshot surfer guy to me, but everything I’ve learned about you is so different. Is any of what you portrayed real?”
“That’s a good question. It’s hard to tell sometimes what version is the mask or the real me.
I’m not sure I’ll ever stop using it completely.
I prefer only to let people close to me, like you, in on who I really am.
” I rubbed at my lower lip as I built up the courage to tell her my deepest secret yet. No one, not even my parents, knew this.
Ren placed the binoculars up to her face and looked where I pointed. “I think it’s amazing. I can’t tell you one bird from the next, let alone call to them.”
“Will you find it weird if I say you remind me of a fairytale? I can see you playing the part and just sitting somewhere in a gown, singing with magical creatures all around you.”
Ren scoffed and looked back at me. “It’ll be the perfect image until they see my combat boots.”
“That’s what makes it all the sweeter of an image,” I said and then kissed the side of her neck. She reminded me of cotton candy, and I wanted to lick her entire body.
“What’d I miss?”
I closed my eyes and ground my teeth at the sound of Myles’s voice. Really? “What are you doing out here,” I asked as he dropped down beside us.
“What does it look like? I came to have lunch.” He leaned across Ren, kissing her as he did, and stuck his hand in the basket. “Oh, this one looks good.” I glared at him, but he smirked back. I would get alone time with Ren even if I had to steal her to get it.
“How did your exams go,” Ren asked, and Myles lifted a shoulder.
“I only got stumped a few times, I think overall, really well, but I think I better keep my tutor just in case,” he teased, and I rolled my eyes as Ren smiled and kissed Myles.
“Have I told you guys today how happy I am that you’re both coming with me tomorrow.”
“Oh, about that….” Myles rubbed the back of his neck.
“You can’t come now,” I asked.
“Naw, it’s not that. Theo is comin’ with us. Nash ordered it,” Myles said, and Ren shrugged.
“Of course, he did and didn’t bother to ask me. I don’t care. My house is big enough for everyone.”
“Don’t be sayin’ that. Nash will invite himself then.” We all smiled at the truth of it.
Freaking Myles. I hadn’t wanted to tell him this yet.
I was still nervous about telling anyone, but I trusted Ren.
I knew there would be no judgment, and I had this whole speech planned out where I told her she was the only one I felt comfortable sharing this secret.
I glanced at Myles as he bit off a chunk of the sandwich I had planned to eat and shook my head. I guess now was as good a time as any.
“I was going to tell Ren this alone, but since you ruined it by showing up, I’ll tell you both together,” I said as I rubbed my hands on my jeans. Ren turned so she was looking at me, and I didn’t know if that was better or worse.
“Ya didn’t slip, did ya?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. I…shit, I didn’t expect this to be so difficult to spit out.” I glanced at Myles, whose cheek was puffed out with a mouthful of sandwich that he seemed to have forgotten he was chewing. Ren seemed frozen and unblinking as she waited. “Fuck it. I’m a virgin.”
“No fucking way!” Myles jumped to his feet, choking on the sandwich. All the birds nearby soared into the air as he coughed on the roast beef. Served him right for interrupting my date.