Page 25 of Dryad, Try Again
“I’m…not used to it,” I mutter.
“Well, get used to it, because you don’t have to take on the weight of the world on your own anymore.” He smiles at me, and I bite back a swoon.
Not only is Kovi attractive and charming, but he fits into my life in a way no one else has ever bothered to. He makes mefeel like someone worth spending time with. My crush on him is undeniable, and judging by the way he looks at me, it might be reciprocated.
“You’re at Creelin U now,” he says in a lower, gentler tone. “You have friends…like Seth.”
“And?”
He gulps. “And…me.”
My throat is parched and my heart hammers in my chest. The next two words take all the courage I can muster. “Just friends?”
He says nothing, and the silence is deafening. I put my hand on his and take in the warm skin of his knuckles. A deep yearning courses through my veins at the simple contact. I’ve made my move, and I pray, deep in my soul, that he’s feeling this too.
His face eases closer to mine, and time slows down. I glance at those dark lips. My groin begins to tingle at the mere thought of him wanting to touch me.I want you so much. Before he can get close enough to kiss, Kovi’s eyebrows jump. He stares all over my face, avoiding my eyes.
“Kovi?”
“You have a scar…right there on your temple.”
I look up then feel my left eyebrow. “Oh, yeah. Is that weird?”
Kovi’s jaw drops and the horror in his eyes is unmistakable. “Did…did I do that?”
Oh. I gulp. “Um, maybe? Yes? I think?” I scratch my eyebrow feeling more self-conscious than ever before.
Kovi starts to breathe heavily, but I make a maneuver to try to salvage this. “But hey…” I take his hand and say, “That was so long ago. I don’t care.”
Before Kovi can say a word, we both look down. His hand under mine has sprouted a tiny branch with a singular leaf.When I take my hand off, I’m surprised to find him mostly made of wood.
Huh. This is a weird time to shift.
He bolts up and I follow him. He grabs his bag and shakes his wooden arms, presumably in an effort to turn them back to human hands.
“Kovi—”
“I gotta go.”
I follow him, and he tucks his wooden hands into his abdomen, hiding them from me.
“But, Kovi—”
“I’m sorry, okay?! I don’t want to hurt you, Tanner, so please, stay away!” He’s nearly shouting as his branches pry open the front door. In a flash, he’s gone, and I don’t dare chase after him.
I stand there in my living room, trying to calm myself down. A dozen emotions whir around my heart, but the one that bubbles to the surface is disappointment. How could such a perfect day with Kovi go so bad so quickly?
11
KOVI
Tanner: I aced my quiz!
Tanner: It’s all thanks to you.
Me: I’m happy for you.
Tanner: Do you want to hang out again?
