Page 80 of Here and Now
She shifts and nods. “I guess they do. I just didn’t know the town had one.”
“Miles knows the story.”
Yeah, today is definitely looking up, and I’m starting to think Lachlan isn’t so bad after all.
fifteen
Penelope
It’s been a few days since I’ve seen him, and the way my heart began to race the moment my eyes met his is seriously an issue.
However, it’s nothing compared to how it is right now. The two of us walking down this dirt path, away from the world.
“So you had a bad day?” I ask, wanting to talk instead of letting my mind wander around.
“I’m in the middle of trying to hire a teacher, and let’s just say the end of July, the worse the chances are of finding the right fit.”
“I can imagine that would suck.”
He chuckles. “It definitely does.” Miles stops, and his hand grips mine. “Now, before we go further down the path, I have to ask you a few questions.”
I work hard to control my breathing and not focus on the way his hand feels in mine. “Okay.”
“First, do you swear to hold the secrets of Ember Falls with your life and never repeat them?”
I blink at that. “What?”
“The secrets that are about to be told must remain—a secret. You have to swear it.”
“Wow, this must be some great secret.”
“It is.” He drops my hand and I already miss the warmth of him.
I nod. “Then I swear to keep the secret.”
“Okay, you passed the first one,” Miles explains. “Now to see if you’re worthy of being told the secret is a little harder.”
“Why do I feel like this is going to be a huge letdown?”
“It could be.”
I laugh softly. “All right, that’s encouraging.”
“First part of the question. Do you have a pure heart?”
I’m not really sure how to answer that one. “Umm, maybe?”
“Maybe? What kind of answer is that?” Miles asks.
“Okay, fine. Yes, I do. If I didn’t, I would’ve just lied off the top.”
“Are you lying now?”
I shrug. “You’ll have to figure that out.”
He steps closer with a grin and my skin tingles. “What I’m hearing is that you want to go out and let me get to know you.”
“You need a hearing exam.” However, he’s not wrong. I want that very much.
