Page 119 of Wild Eyes
“Incredible” is my breathless response.
His fingers trail over my cheekbone and tenderly comb loose strands of hair back behind my ear. “That’s how you should always feel. God, I’m so proud of you, Sky.”
He kisses me, and I melt. For him. Into him. I melt so completely that I hope I’m stuck to him forever.
We haven’t really talked about forever. Me, too afraid to insert myself into his life. Him, too afraid to ask me to stay. Both of us too shit-scared to mess up something that feels so vital.
He hugs me to his chest, and I can hear his heartbeat against the shell of my ear. Steady and sure. His arms encase me like the warmest blanket and the toughest shield.
“I’ve been putting off meeting with my agent, and I really should…I don’t know, do something about this nomination. The other emails are all interview requests. And I finally feel up to talking about my music. So I’m going to need to go back to LA soon to prepare. This award show is only a few weeks away.”
“I know.” His chin rests on my head so I can feel him nod.
“I’ll come back though, okay?”
His arms clamp down on me tighter. “You fucking better.”
“I promise.”
He nods again, his voice more tentative now. “I can’t leave, Skylar. Not for any real amount of time. My kids?—”
“I know.” He doesn’t need to tell me, Iknow.
“But I also don’t want you stuck here. This is incredible. You’ve worked so hard, and you deserve to soak up every moment. To go after every dream. I want us, but I want that for you more.”
Now my tears are sad.Go after every dream. The words clog in my throat, and I don’t want to turn into a weepy mess, so I skirt the truth.
The truth is, my dreams have changed.
“I promised that I’ll be back, and I meant it.”
This time, when he nods, he doesn’t say anything. He just holds me. For a long, long time.
Photosynthesis by Skylar Stone
Backroads
Are never paved by a girl like me
Can’t be seen
No emerald
But the leaving I’ve seen
Still lies right before me
I’m a spoonful of polish
Just blind trust turned faithless
But my world doesn’t matter here
And my porcelain life is behind me
I found peace in these clashin’ chairs
Never knew such a small life could free me
