Page 20 of Some Kind of Forever
“Well, I’m spent,” Claire says through a yawn, stretching her legs.
I make my way back to the log and hand the s’more to Kayla, trying not to blush at the smile she sends me.
“Kayla, you’re still on firepit duty tonight?” Claire asks.
“Yep, on it!” Kayla answers cheerfully.
Samson stands and says, “I think I’m gonna turn in too.” And the charge in the air has shifted. Sami and Kyle are opposite Kayla and me, singing and strumming in their own little twin-connected world. Kayla shifts, hugging her legs to her chest before resting her cheek on her knee.
“You gonna make it?” I ask.
“Yeah, I’m not tired. Just enjoying the fire,” she says casually, staring into the flames. I’m transfixed by the peaceful look on her face, and my fingers twitch at the thought of stroking her exposed jawline.
“Well, we’re gonna head in too,” Kyle says, walking toward us with guitar in hand.
Sami follows close behind, and when she passes me, whispers, “You’re welcome.” Her eyes dart over toward Kayla in an obvious way, but Kayla’s stare is still lost to the flames.
The cool breeze blows through my hair, making me shiver as I pull my hood up. “You could go in, too, if you want.” Kayla’s tranquil voice coats the tension between us. “I’ll be fine out here.”
“Gotta stay with my buddy, remember?” I tease, recalling the camp rules. “S’more time?”
She pops her head up and flashes her teeth in a nervous grin. “Maybe just one more, if you don’t mind.”
“Hey, you won these fair and square. I’ll make as many as you want.” I head back to the marshmallows, roasting two this time. Maybe if my mouth is full of melted sugar, I won’t make a fool of myself. Two s’mores later, we’re sitting side by side, shoulders touching, watching the fire burn lower and lower. Our intimate quiet game will be over soon, and even though we aren’t talking, I don’t want this night to end. I turn to her, moving my legs to either side of the log.
“Wanna have a thumb war?”
She gives me a full-bodied laugh and looks in my eyes. “Really? That’s the line you’re going with?” A fit of giggles escapes her as she rocks back on the log.
“Wha—that’s not a line.” I smile, chuckling.
“Oh, it sois. You mean to tell me a thumb war isn’t your attempt to hold my hand?”
“I mean, the nature of the game is to hold hands. I don’t make the rules, I just follow them. Scared you’ll lose?” I raise my eyebrows in a challenge, staring at her. She gazes right back, and after several seconds, slowly turns her body to face me, her toes touching mine on either side of the log. She holds out her right hand, and when her eyes meet mine, they reflect the last simmering flickers of the flame. I hold my palm next to hers, and an electricity rivaling the burning embers in the ground surges through my hand as she slides her fingers against mine.
“One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war,” we chant in unison. Our thumbs dance in the low light of what’s left of thefire. Kayla bites her lip in concentration, I lose focus, and she pins my thumb under hers.
“Ha!” she yells, triumphant. “I win?—”
“You have some chocolate…” I whisper, pointing to her lip. She takes her free hand, and my eyes follow the line she traces across her lips.
“Did I get it?” she asks breathlessly. Based on the surprised look in her eyes, I think she realizes just how close our faces have gotten. I shake my head and reach with my thumb, tracing the same line across her lips and down her chin, until my hand rests in that crease between her jaw and pulse. War hands still locked in an embrace, jade green eyes staring into my blue, I lean forward. Our breath waltzes together the closer I inch, and just before my lips press to hers, she lets go. Breathing a heavy sigh, her hand swipes at her brow and she scoots backward.
“I can’t believe I almost fell for that one,” she muses out loud. Her face twists. “You’re good… Did I even have chocolate on my face?”
I shrug. “I…uh…guess we’ll never know.”Smooth, Chase.What the hell wasthat?
Kayla stands and grabs the shovel leaning against the table, before mixing up the ashes in the pit. She throws water on what’s left of the smoldering embers, dousing the glow and drenching the tendrils of whatever just happened between us. I grab the leftover dessert supplies, and we walk silently to the mess hall, a significant distance between us. Inside the activity center, the dark hallway all but consumes her retreating form as I wait by the exit to escort her to her cabin, like a good little camp buddy. I need to find a way to salvage this night—hell, this whole week.
Walking to our cabins in silence, we stop just short of her building. “Goodnight, Chase,” she says with finality, not chancing a look at me as she turns toward her door.
I grab her hand, turning her to face me. “Kayla, wait.” I pull her toward me, my hand finding the dip in her waist. Having her this close again is mind-numbing, and it’s all I can do not tocapture her mouth with mine. She doesn’t pull away, but she doesn’t look at me either. As I cup her cheek, my heart beats rapidly in my chest. “I?—”
“Chase, we can’t,” she whispers. But I don’t miss her tongue darting out over her bottom lip.
“Why not?” I lean in, feeling pulled into her orbit.
“Because we…work together…” her voice trails breathlessly.
