Page 91 of Nineteen Letters
“I love it.” I look down at my wrist as my fingers move over the charms. They touch the tiny bike, then the shell, before settling on the tree. “This is for the day you fell out of the tree trying to rescue my kite.” My eyes dart up to him, and though he’s smiling, I see sadness in his eyes, which in turn makes tears cloud mine. “I used Stephen’s ladder to climb the tree in the backyard. I wanted to see the message you’d carved into the wood.”
“You did? But it was so high up.”
“Heights don’t bother me.”
“Was it still there?”
“Yes.BS loves JR, inside a heart.”
A lone tear escapes. Braxton’s hand quickly moves to the side of my face, and his thumb gently swipes across my cheek, catching it.
“Can I kiss you?”
“Yes,” I reply without hesitation. There’s nothing I want more.
My heart thumps furiously in my chest as he takes a step towards me, closing the gap between us. His fingers slide into my hair as he gently tilts my head back. The feelings that are coursing through my body are foreign, yet exhilarating.
Braxton’s face inches forward, and the moment his lips meet mine the world around me stops. My hand’s fist in the front of his shirt as my body instinctively melts into his.
He opens his mouth slightly and deepens the kiss, and I have no control over the soft moan that falls from my lips. His kiss awakens my entire body, making me feel so …alive.
I immediately feel the loss when he draws back. “Wow,” I breathe.
He rests his forehead against mine, and although I can’t see his mouth, I know he’s smiling.
Goosebumps pebble my skin as his thumb tenderly caresses my cheek. “Goodnight, Jem.”
“Goodnight.”
When I close the front door behind me, I lean back into it and sigh. I feel my lips curve up as my fingertips brush across them. Things are definitely changing between us, and surprisingly, that doesn’t scare me in the slightest …it excites me.
I can’t wait to see him in the morning.
My eyes spring open and then immediately close again as I’m almost blinded by the light flooding into my bedroom. Sitting up, I rub my eyes—and my heart sinks when I see it’s 9.34 am. I missed my run, but more importantly, I missed breakfast with Braxton.
Throwing back the covers, I leap out of bed. I jump when I fling my bedroom door open and find Christine standing a few feet away.
“God,” I screech, clutching my chest. “I wasn’t expecting to see you standing there.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. I was just coming up to check on you.”
“I slept in … I missed my run.”
My disappointment is quickly replaced with giddiness when I see a letter in her hand. “It appears you two had a great time lastnight. Braxton couldn’t stop smiling when he dropped this off. His face looked a lot like yours does.”
“Thanks,” I say, taking it from her. “We had an amazing time.”
“I’m pleased to hear that.” She reaches for my hand, squeezing it. “You two were made for each other.”
I’m starting to believe that.
From what I’ve learned of my past, I think my parents were made for each other as well. “Do you think you’ll ever be able to forgive Dad for everything that happened?”
My question surprises her. She’s silent for a brief time before finally answering with a very firm, “No.” I sigh when she turns and heads towards the staircase. I refuse to believe that.
Closing my bedroom door, I look down at the letter in my hand and find myself smiling again. I’m eager to find out about another adventure from my former life.
Letter eleven…
