Page 54 of Fight Or Flight

I shake my head.

It’s code for I wanted to be alone with you so I could kiss you.

“Well, as long as you don’t blow anymore smoke in my mouth, lead the way Soldier Boy,” she whispers as she loops her arm through mine. Maybe if we walk along the shore, the breeze will sober her up and I won’t feel guilty about taking her mouth.

“That’s the first time anyone’s called me that,” I say.

“Well, you should probably get used to it,” she replies, leaning her head on my shoulder. “Are we going to take that walk or what?”

“Yeah,” I whisper. “Let’s do it.”

I might not be able to swim in the ocean with her, but we’ll always have a walk on the beach.

I tell Danny we’ll be back, and I lead her toward the water. We walk quietly along the shore for a while until she starts to shiver. I remove my jacket and drape it over her shoulders and wrap my arms around her.

“Do you want to head back?”

Lifting her head from my chest, she shakes her head.

“Not yet,” she whispers, her eyes locking with mine. “Warm me up.”

I stare at her for a moment, searching for a sign. The green light girls normally give you when you silently seek permission to kiss them. She licks her lips and my pants grow ten sizes too small.

“You’re killing me,” I groan as her hands slide down my shirt, curling around the thin material.

“How?”

I cluck my tongue against the roof of my mouth.

“How fucked up are you?”

“I’m not.”

“I want to believe you.”

I want to believe her so fucking bad.

“I’ll sing the alphabet backwards for you,” she offers.

I raise an eyebrow. Maybe she isn’t as fucked up as I think she is. I certainly can’t recite that shit backwards.

“Why did you ask me?” she probes.

I lift my hand and run my fingers down her cheek. I bet her father is looking down at us, regretting he ever stepped in front of that bullet.

“Because I don’t want you impaired when I kiss you.” Her eyes widen and her mouth forms the perfect little O. “Not even a little,” I continue.

Then it happens.

The yes.

Consent radiates from her eyes and her fingers tighten around my t-shirt.

“You want to kiss me?’

“More than anything.”

“Well, what are you waiting for, Soldier Boy?”

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