Page 34 of The Moment Promised

“Who buys a tourist shirt of the place they live?” I ask.

“My dad. He thought it would be a funny Christmas gift.” He shrugs. “Put it on. You’re cold.”

I throw on the sweatshirt and Finn grabs me by the waist and hoists me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. As soon as I shriek, my hand shoots up to cover my mouth.

“Keep quiet, my parents are sleeping.”

My voice comes out muffled. “Then don’t pick me up in the first place!” The thrill of excitement runs through me, spontaneity is one of the only things that make me feel alive.

“Up to the roof we go,” he says, definitively.

Blood rushes to my head, my long hair sweeping the floor as Finn walks to his bedroom window.

He sets me back on my feet and lifts open the window. It squeaks loudly and I cringe at the sound contrasting the dead of night. He steps out the window first, then holds a hand out for me.

I roll my eyes and grab his hand, climbing out the window and stumbling over my own two feet. Finn catches me before I slip, holding me tight. I glance up and realize our faces are really close. He looks at my mouth, and I duck my head into his chest, feeling insecure.Do I have something in my teeth?

Finn takes a deep breath and clears his throat. A salty breeze messes up my hair. I walk to the edge of the roof and sit with my legs crossed. I fidget, trying to get comfortable, eventually I settle and let my legs dangle off the edge.

The full moon illuminates Finn’s neighborhood. Palm trees sway in the soft wind. I feel Finn’s eyes on me, when I turn around, he peers down quickly.

I pat the roof, right next to me. “Sit,” I demand.

He walks over to the spot, sits, and dangles his legs like mine. His are much longer. He’s starting to go through a growth spurt. His body is getting longer but his weight remains the same. His hair is in desperate need of a haircut. I always pick on him for the long pieces that never know how to lay properly.

“Are you nervous?” He turns to me. The moonlight reflects in his eyes.

“For what?”

He nudges my side. “If you’re nervous about tomorrow, you can talk about it.”

Tomorrow is our first day of high school, also the first time we will be attending the same school. I am anythingbutnervous. I’m elated.

“You seem like the one who should be nervous,” I state.

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

“You’ve never gone to school with me before. For all you know, I could be a completely different person in high school society.”

“You couldn’t be any different if you tried.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’re you,” he starts. “You’re kind and selfless, and I’m sure you’re going to be very popular, but in a good way. A nice way.”

My heart flip flops in my chest because that is the nicest thing anyone’s said to me. I can’t even think of a playful comeback or snarky comment, so I just rest my head on his shoulder and whisper, “Thank you.”

“Fourwholeyears,” he eventually says out loud. “I don’t know how I’ll survivethatmuch of Adeline Miller.”

I smile and go along with it because I love bantering with him. “I can’t stand that girl. I mean, come on! And don’t even get me started on thathair, what a catastrophe.”

“Hey, hey now lady, don’t go talking about my best friend’s hair.” He looks at me like I’m someone else. “It’s way prettier than yours.”

There he goes again making my heart flutter, he laces a compliment in every witty remark.

“So much is going to happen over the next four years,” he says, staring off into space, as if he’s picturing a million different possibilities.

I smile, tucking a knotted piece of hair behind my ear. “Maybe I’ll lose my virginity in these next four years.”

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