Bree looked at me like I was crazy. “We just saw each other last night.”
“I know. There’s something I didn’t tell you last night, though.” I ran a hand through my hair, watching her expression change. Almost instantly, she looked so sad, it hurt me to see her stare at me like that.
I reached for her, and she allowed me to take her hand and pull her toward her bed, where I sat. Just on its edge, not completely. I didn’t want her to get any wrong ideas here. Bree sat beside me, our knees grazing each other’s, and I held onto her hand, refusing to let it go.
Her hand was so much smaller than mine, her fingers slender and pale, her nails cut short. Not a freckle anywhere to be seen. Almost like a child’s hand in mine, every part of it smooth and soft. I held onto her like the world depended on it, like I would lose her forever if I let her go.
It might be easier to let her go. It might be easier for the both of us if I cut this off, trampled and discarded these budding feelings inside, but that wasn’t what I wanted. Even if this would be hard, even if this would be the most difficult thing I’d ever had to do in my life, I wanted to keep Bree with me. I wanted to be in her life and her to be in mine. I would be enough strength for the both of us.
“It’s nothing bad,” I told her, trying to ease the tension I could feel seeping from her. “I just…I’m heading back home today.” Figured it would be best to just out and say it, get it over with. To prolong this would only lead her to think of everything else that I could possibly say and have her needlessly worried.
Her expression fell somewhat. “Oh.”
I tugged on her hand, causing her to lean into me. “That doesn’t mean anything, though. I meant what I said before. I still want to see you, Bree.”
The look she gave me right then told me she didn’t believe me, and I responded by using my free hand to cup her cheek and tilt her head, planting my lips on hers. I hoped this kiss told her all my words couldn’t.
Bree turned to mush in my hands, leaning into me, sighing into my mouth as her lips turned pliant and willing. I released her hand, pulling her onto my lap as I kissed her harder, wrapping my arms around her back and holding her against me, soft enough not to hurt her, but tight enough that she could not escape.
And she wouldn’t. I would not let this girl go. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
After a while, I pulled my mouth off hers, opening my eyes just a hair to see her already staring up at me, her lips a tad redder than they were before, her cheeks beautifully flushed with heat. “If you think that just because I’m going home means this is over, you’re wrong.” I tangled my fingers into her hair, swiping my thumb along the curve of her cheekbone. “I’ve never done long-distance before. I never wanted to. But for you…for you I would, for you I will.”
Bree set a hand on my chest, running it along the fabric of my shirt as she gazed up at me with eyes that were too innocent, too wide and sad for their own good.
“I like you too much to let you go,” I added, hugging her harder, feeling her shiver against me. She buried her face in the crook of my neck, breathing me in, and I simply held her, refusing to let her go.
For now, at least, we could stay like this. For a little while.
Alas, even the tender, quiet moments had to end. Such was life. I hated the fact that I had to help Bree off me, had to let her go and feel a coldness where her body had been, but I had to. I had to go home, had to fix my life. Things would get better, though. With this girl by my side, everything would get better.
“I’ll text you when I’m home, okay?”
Bree nodded, and I gave her a quick peck on the cheek before leaving. I waved goodbye to her parents, who were in the living room, and I headed to the front door, feeling good about it. Bree might not believe me yet, but hopefully in time she would. Hopefully in time she’d come to trust me, know that I meant everything I said. I—
All of my thoughts stopped the moment I stepped outside and found myself staring at another guy getting out of his car. He’d parked in the driveway, right behind Bree’s car. He had a backpack slung over his shoulder, and he looked positively thrilled to be here.
Was he here to see Michelle? Kyle hadn’t mentioned anything about her working with another guy…
Light brown hair that seemed to sparkle golden in the sun, a clean-cut jaw that was more square than anything. When he got closer, I could see his eyes were a dark amber, and the moment they locked on me, his legs halted.
He was a handsome guy, I guess. Kyle would be jealous if Michelle had to work with him.
The other guy narrowed his eyes at me somewhat, and he soon met me on the pathway just below the porch. I had no idea why he stared at me like he didn’t like me, but as long as he wasn’t making any moved on my brother’s girl, we were fine.
“Let me guess,” the newcomer spoke, grinning a dimpled smile. “Calum, right? You know, I always wondered, what kind of name is Calum anyways?”
Wait a minute. How the heck
