Page 33 of Take Me to the Valley

“Evan kissed me last night,” I say.

Kaylee drops her eyeliner on the counter and spins to look at me. What?! Why didn't you call me?” She stares at me wide-eyed.

“I figured you were asleep.”

“So, you wake me up! Best friend code says that is a legit reason to wake the other up! Oh my god! All the details now!” She demands, her makeup long forgotten.

I spend the next few minutes spilling all the details about the flirty comments, touches, looks, and kiss, ending with how I quickly bailed and left my mom there this morning.

“Oh, my god!” Kaylee squeals, but quickly sobers when she realizes I'm not gushing with her.

“Okay, what is it?” She asks, leaning against the bathroom counter.

“I'm so much older than him,” I say.

“So, if he was older than you, it wouldn't even be a factor, so it shouldn't be now,” she waves it off.

“He's Cody's best friend. My family is the only other family Skye knows. It would be so awkward if it didn't work out. I'd be the one to back away because otherwise he's lost his entire support group.” I tell her everything that ran through my mind last night.

“Or you can look at it as you two already fit into each other's lives. You know each other better than most people when theystart dating, andwhenthis works out, it will be a seamless transition,” Kaylee says, ever the optimist.

“And you think Cody is going to find out and say, ‘oh cool’ with a shrug and let it be?” I ask because we both know that is not how it's going to go down.

“I think he wants you both happy. While it will take some getting used to, he will be okay with it eventually when he sees how good you two are together.”

“Everyone in town will judge me for being older than him.”

“Fuck them. Again, if he were older, no one would blink an eye. Those who care about you two won't care at all. The rest don't matter,” she says.

“Then there is Skye. She is already attached to me, and if it doesn't work out, she will be hurt, too.”

“Kids are more resilient than you think. Plus, she won't lose you completely, the same way Evan won't lose your family. It will just be a different normal. Talk to your mom and dad if you need reassurance, but you should see where this goes. I saw the way that man looked at you. I wouldn’t think twice if I could find someone to look at me that way,” she says, finally picking her eyeliner back up and finishing her makeup. “The big question is, how did the kiss feel?”

I smile like a love-struck teenager.

“It was the best kiss I’ve ever had. He took control. But he was gentle, and the way my heart raced was like nothing I've ever felt before,” I say honestly, making Kaylee sigh.

I think of that kiss again, and I can’t stop smiling. It’s been a long time since I’ve had something like this to be happy about.

“While I get that you are scared, but don't let the fear of striking out…” she starts saying the same line we have heard from my dad over and over again.

“... Keep you from playing the game,” I finish and sigh because I know she's right.

“Alright, I need to go rescue my mom, and you need to get to work,” I say, standing up and giving her a hug.

“Call me, no matter what time, next time something happens!” Kaylee says with a stern look.

“I promise to wake you up at two a.m. the next time Evan kisses me,” I joke.

Laughing, she says, “That's all I ask!”

Chapter 17

Evan

It's been a few days since that life-changing kiss with Calista. There have been a few more stolen kisses and some heated glances but with Skye home for the weekend it was near impossible to find any time alone together.

I've made it down to the living room couch for the first time since I've been home, and those stairs took a lot out of me. But it feels amazing to be out of my room and have a change of scenery. Since Skye was back in school today, I was hoping to have some time to at least talk to Calista, but Rick came by this morning and only left when Cody stopped by.

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