Page 22 of Always You

“I know you don’t want to talk about her, but I’m a good listener. I mean, if you ever do, that is. Talk about your mom, I mean,” I explain, more clumsily than it sounded in my head. Now that I’ve had a glimpse of his heart, I want him to have someone to be there for him more than anything. My gut tells me that he has been dealing with life alone for far too long, and I want him to know he’s not alone. That I’m here for him.

His head slowly turns toward mine, examining my face with a troubled smile. He reaches out his hand to push back another strand of my silky hair, then cups my cheek. I want to lean into his touch forever.

“I know this sounds weird, since we met yesterday. But there’s just something about you. I can’t shake it.”

It’s as if his heart is bleeding right in front of me, making my own hurt for him.

He’s keeping up this strong front for the rest of the world, but I see right through the act. See the boy inside of him who’s starving for some genuine affection.

“Like what?” I press, covering my hand with the one he has on my face. The tension rises like a balloon, ready to burst my bubble any second now, but I can’t deflect from it either.

He takes a deep breath while his thumb starts to stroke my cheek. There’s at least two feet of air separating us, but still, this feels awfully intimate.

“Like the need to keep you close. Forever. Like I can trust you with my life, saving me from the darkness.” He looks at me with an intensity that makes me hold my breath, stripping me naked with every second that passes by before he moves his lips again. “Will you be that girl for me, Charls? Will you always be my friend? Friends first?”

My heart falls a little at the word “friend,” though that’s exactly what I’ve been telling myself. I want to be his friend; I want to be there for him. I want to be the safe haven he doesn’t have.

But then why does my heart take a beating at the same time? Ending us before we even begin? But part of me is also relieved. Relieved because I have a feeling this boy has the ability to hook me with a smile and crush me with a glare. Becoming anything but safe for my heart.

Yeah, friends are exactly what we should be if I want to keep my heart intact.

I swallow hard, then plaster a smile on my face, knowing I want all he can give me. All he has to offer. If he needs me to be his friend, I’ll be the best friend he can get.

“I will always be your friend, Hunter. Friends first.”

7

I'm sitting on the step of my porch, enjoying the sun warming my skin, even though I feel dead inside.Numb.My feet anxiously tap the wood of the steps while I’m swiping through my phone. Basically avoiding my mom until Charlotte arrives to bring my truck back.

“You’re nothing but a freeloader.”

The winning comment of the day. I would love to say that’s the worst she’s ever said, but that would be a lie. At this point, I’m surprised she hasn’t wished me dead yet.

Fuck knows I have.

The first time she started telling me I was shit, I went to my room feeling exactly that.

Like shit.

Wishing I was the one in that damn car with my dad, and that my brother would’ve been the one to survive. But then I would realize I’d never want my brother to have to deal with this version of my mother, so I was glad he was spared the experience.

How fucked up is that? Considering your dead brother lucky, because at least he doesn’t have to deal with your alcoholic mom?

I grunt at my own thoughts, shaking my head to push my self-pity away by looking at the messages on my phone.

LIZA:LAST NIGHT WAS FUN ;)

HUNTER:IT SURE WAS.

LIZA:WANNA DO IT AGAIN 2NIGHT?

HUNTER:MAYBE

Not if Charlotte is willing to spend her night with me instead.

LIZA:WORD IS UR HAVING A FIGHT TONIGHT …

HUNTER:I DO.

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