Page 60 of Steps

Varen stifles a laugh. “Wow. Guess nothing’sstressing you out. You live in a perfect world filled with rainbows andunicorns.”

“Shut up.” I give him the middle finger.

He grabs a red balloon and prepares himself. “My world’sa fucking mess.” He throws with impeccable force. The balloon shattersmomentously as it hit the wall, blurring even my small blue dashes.

“Shit.” I scoff and look at him. “Guess so.”

We toss balloon after balloon, flooding the wallwith a mixture of colors until no white areas are left. Down to the lastballoon, we stop and admire our crazy work of art.

“Hey,” Varen draws my attention.

When I turn, he touches my face with his messyglove. My eyes go wide.

“Ugh! Varen, you jerk!” I grab the last balloonfrom the bucket and chase him around the room with it, ready to splatter it onhis head. Varen sticks his tongue out whenever he’s successful at evading me.This is the most playful I’ve ever seen him.

Finally, I give up and toss it at his back, makinga bigger mess of his coveralls.

“Hey!” He rushes for me, wiping paint all over myattire. We laugh together, feeling so at ease and happy.

One of the employees returns and gushes at us.“You two are cute.” She snaps a pic of our ridiculous wall. “Is there a numberor email you’d like me to send this to?”

“You can send it to mine,” Varen says, arm stillaround my waist.

“Cool.”

We strip off everything and wash the paint fromour faces before heading out.

“You got a bit here still,” Varen teases whiledriving in his car. He pokes my side.

“Stop,” I giggle. “Watch the road.”

“Want to go for a swim?” he asks, wiggling hisbrows.

“Why not? We can’t be this close at home.” I leanback against the seat.

Varen reaches for my hand. He holds it until wearrive at the river.

Shedding our clothes, I smack his butt beforejumping into the water.

He shakes his head and hurdles in afterward,towing me into his arms when he swims closer.

Varen kisses me, passionately. It always feelslike our first time. I can never get enough of his lips and the powerful way mybody responds to him.

Relaxing by the river later, we talk while dryingin the warm air. Before we know it, the sun is starting to set, and we watch asfiery-orange colors burn on the horizon.

But this doesn’t amaze me as much as themysterious creature sitting beside me. While Varen stares out across the river,I observe him in wonder, trying to understand the strong emotions he evokeswhenever I’m with him.

Gently, I place my hand at the nape of his neckthen trace my fingers down his back.

“I’ve never felt this way about anyone, Varen,” Iconfess in a near whisper. “It’s like, everything fades, and it’s just you. I’mcompletely myself with you.”

He turns to me, a somber look on his face. “Thatfucking scares me.”

I frown. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to disappoint you, Toya.”

Caressing his face, I smile and tell him sweetly,“You won’t.”

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