CHAPTER 08 - Bryan Trevor #2
“That's it, girl,” I say, desperately wanting to kiss her pink lips. “Let's try again.” She nods excitedly, and for the next few minutes, I keep teaching her.
We only stop when she manages to make it skip three times.
I've never seen anyone so happy about something so silly.
“Look at that, one more good memory for tonight,” she says with a smile, but I notice her body shiver a little.
Noah's wearing a tank top that leaves her arms bare, and even with jeans, there's no way she's staying warm.
I don't think she had any idea where she was headed, because with all the trees surrounding us, it gets pretty cold out here.
None of us would dare come without a jacket or hoodie—we know how cold it gets by the lake.
I take off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders.
She looks at me in surprise.
“You're going to be cold,” she says, eyeing my short-sleeved shirt.
“I'm used to the weather here.”
“Thanks for the stone-skipping lesson and for the heater,” she jokes, pulling the jacket closed in front.
Since the jacket's too big for her, she manages to bundle up nicely. I fight the urge to pull her into my arms and warm her up myself.
“It was nothing,” I deflect, looking ahead, and I hold my breath when she leans her head against my arm.
“Tell me something you really want but can't have,” she asks suddenly.
You.
It's the first word that comes to mind, but I don't say it out loud.
“To get out of this place.”
“Look, we have something in common,” she says, and I hear the sadness in her voice. “Do you have a girlfriend, Bryan?”
“No, and you?”
“Me neither.” The information makes me smile. “My parents wouldn't allow it.” The smile dies instantly.
“So are you going to become a nun?” I joke, trying to ease the tension.
“They're going to choose my husband at some point, and I think it's happening soon.” She snuggles a little closer.
“Didn't that die out centuries ago?”
“For my family, it still exists. Besides, it's sacred.”
“That's insane,” I say, trying to hide the anger in my voice.
“You should be the only one who gets to choose who you marry and build a family with, if that's what you want.” I take a deep breath, wanting to strangle people I don't even know.
“But if you'd rather live alone, if you don't want any of that, that's fine too—as long as it's your choice.”
“Let's forget about my parents,” she says, and I want to argue, but I know it's not my place, so I just nod, even though she's not looking at me.
“Look how beautiful.” She points to a blue butterfly flying near us.
“You like butterflies?”
“I love them.” I can't see it, but I feel her smile. “They're beautiful and free,” she murmurs, and I start running my fingers through her hair.
She doesn't complain and snuggles even closer.
“One day you'll be free like them,” I whisper without thinking, but she doesn't respond, and silence settles over us.
We spend the next few minutes lost in our own thoughts, staring into the darkness ahead. The urge to kiss her is overwhelming, but I resist because I know she's the kind of girl I could never get involved with, and something tells me her life is just as complicated as mine.
“Noah, time to go back,” Tessa calls, shattering the moment, and Noah lets out a quiet sigh.
“I need to go,” she says, pulling away from me, and an emptiness quickly fills me.
We stand up, and she smiles weakly as she hands me back the jacket.
This close, I notice the freckles on her face, and all I want right now is more time to appreciate them.
“Is there a way for me to know you'll be okay? That your parents won't find out you left?” I ask, worried.
“I don’t have a cell phone.” I press my lips together and wonder what kind of parents she has, because with every new thing I learn about her, I hate them more. “I only have a tree next to my bedroom window, but it can’t talk, even though I talk to it when I feel lonely.”
Fuck!
A lump forms in my throat at her answer.
She says it laughing, but I can feel the loneliness screaming in every word.
“I hope you’ll be okay, Butterfly.” Her eyes light up at the nickname, and I step closer. “I really enjoyed meeting you, and I hope we run into each other again,” I say, pressing a kiss to her temple.
When I pull back, I notice her flushed cheeks and have no idea if it’s from the cold or from my kiss.
“Take care,” she says, already turning on her heels, and I slip my hands into my pockets, watching her walk away and say goodbye to the group.
Noah heads toward the trail entrance with Tessa, but before disappearing down the path, she turns around.
Our eyes meet again.
A smile.
She flashes me one last smile, and I realize I’m going to need to learn how to climb trees.
I open my eyes when the shrill sound of my phone yanks me out of the memories.
“Did something happen?” I ask, answering my brother’s call.
“I’m already at the Hangar to pick her up,” he says, referring to our mother. “And I got the sign language teacher you asked for.”
“That’s great.” I stand up, holding the phone against my shoulder while I brush the leaves off my pants.
“She’s the best and the most expensive.” That’s not a problem, and he knows it. “I sent her contact info to your email, along with the preliminary intel I gathered on the Blacks.”
“Thanks, man,” I say, already heading toward the trail that leads out of the lake area. “Let me know when Lilian gets to the hospital.”
“I’ll text you.” I nod even though he can’t see me. “Any news?”
“None.” The leaves crunch under my feet, the sound loud in the silence of the early morning. “I’ll call you if anything comes up,” I say, then hang up.
I leave the lake and the memories behind as I walk to my car and head to my temporary place.