Page 37 of Curses and Cornstalks
Right?
My thoughts spiral faster, countless horrifying scenarios fly through my head, and my panic soars to an all time high.
“Atticus, where are you?” My voice is low this time, a lump in my throat attempting to cut off the noise
Something shifts nearby, and I suppress a scream.
“Cassie?”
I hear him before I see him, that deep southern drawl tugging at me like a redneck siren’s call.
Atticus!
When he emerges from the stalks, a wave of relief washes over me. I blink and look him over head to toe, checking for anything that looks amiss or wrong, but he looks okay.
In fact, he looks… amazing.
His clothes are no longer tattered, his red jacket looking pristine, like he just took it off the hanger. His jeans are clean, his boots unscuffed. Even the burlap sack covering his face looks brand new, like it’s never been used.
I blink again to make sure I’m not seeing things, but his visage remains the same.
He’s alright.I exhale a little breath of relief.He isn’t hurt.
This must be what he looked like the day he was cursed.
Unmarred, untouched by the elements…
The lump in my throat swells as I look him over, and I can’t hold myself back anymore. I burst into a sprint, desperate to throw my arms around him, and slam into him in a clash of limbs. He loses his footing and falls backward, with me landing on top of him.
“I’m sorry!” I gasp as he groans, but all I can do is bury my face in his chest and breath in his earthy, woodsy scent like I need it to survive. “Fuck, I thought you were hurt. I thought something happened…”
His arms wrap around me as best as they can with my backpack in the way, and a soft chuckle escapes him.
“I’m fine, darling,” he says softly, running a gloved hand over my hair. “And I’m happy to see you, too.”
Chapter Fifteen
Atticus
I stare downat the top of Cassie’s head, warmth seeping through my chest that has little to do with her body heat.
She was…worried about me?
“You came running because you thought I was injured?” I swallow hard.
“I heard you scream.” She nods against my chest, still breathing heavily. “It was you, wasn’t it? I thought maybe someone had come to find you as some holiday prank.”
I smile beneath my burlap mask, moved by her compassion.
“They did,” I explain, and her head pops up so she can see me. “Some teenagers snuck into the far end of the field, but I scared them off.”
She hesitates, her eyes locked with mine like she’s trying to detect any hint of a lie. “So, they didn’t see you?”
“Not even close.”
A tiny sigh escapes her and she settles against my chest again. “Thank God. Give me a second, and I’ll move after I catch my breath. I’m not exactly in shape…”
I stroke my hand over her hair again, completely content to stay exactly where we are. After not seeing her for so long—a few days felt like weeks—I plan to savor every second with her. However she wants.
