Page 10 of Only Ever You
“I get it,” I finally said after a pocket of silence stretched between us. “For what it’s worth, I understand keeping things private.” When I’d met Luna before, it was a time filled with secrets for me. She sure as hell didn’t know my whole story.
She twisted her hands nervously. “I have to get in the back because I’m in the middle of baking.”
“I’ll text you,” I said. “I can grab dinner any night I’m in town.”
Her lips curled in a slight smile. “That would be great.”
“Your donuts are the best I’ve ever had, by the way.” I lifted the boxes in my hands in emphasis.
My heart felt pulled toward her when her cheeks went pretty and pink again. “I’m glad.”
She spun around and hurried into the back. I watched her go and remembered the Luna I’d met for a very brief time years back, a mere two weeks after I got out of juvenile detention.
Chapter Seven
PARKER
Approximately 10 years ago
The cool air feels amazing on my cheeks. I stand on the docks in Fireweed Harbor and take a slow breath.
A few minutes later, I walk along the beach, idly kicking a rock. These days, my social life is pretty empty. In two days, I’m moving to Juneau. I’m going to miss my dad, but my dad is a big part of the reason I don’t have many friends because, well, that’s a long story.
Fresh out of juvenile detention, all I want is a chance to stay out of trouble. My probation officer has set me up with a job training program in Juneau. I’ll be volunteering at the local fire station and training to be a firefighter.
At the sound of footsteps behind me, I glance back to see a girl. Her dark hair is long and straight. It blows like a banner in the wind behind her. She laughs when a seal pokes its head out of the water and dives back under.
“You can’t catch me!” she calls.
I can’t stop the laugh that sputters out. She glances over to see me and stops in the sand before slapping her hand over her mouth.
“Don’t worry about me. Keep playing hide and seek with the seal,” I tease.
I’m drawn to her. Without thinking, I walk across the sand and pebble beach to stop a few feet away from her. “I’m Parker,” I say.
She blinks before her lips curl in a slow smile. “I’m—” There’s a long enough hesitation that I start to wonder. “Jane,” she says, almost a little too forcefully.
“Nice to meet you, Jane.” I hold my hand out.
She looks delighted as she smiles down at my hand, reaching out to clasp it and shake it slowly. “Nice to meet you, Parker.”
She’s so fresh and cute, I want to kiss her. I try to remember the last time I kissed a girl. I have to think a little harder than I would like. It was before detention when I had a girlfriend in high school named Sandra. We officially broke up when I got in trouble, for good reason.
Reluctantly, I release Jane’s hand and stuff both of mine in my pockets as I tip my head to the side. “Are you from here?”
Jane shakes her head, her hair swinging a little. “Just visiting.”
She doesn’t explain further. I don’t know why, but it feels like there’s more to it than that. I tell myself I’m a little crazy. Alaska is tourists galore in the summer, so it’s perfectly logical for someone to be visiting.
“What are you doing this afternoon?” I ask.
Jane’s smile is a little shy. “I’m walking on the beach. I have three hours of freedom. What are you doing?”
“I’m walking on the beach too.”
We stare at each other long enough it starts to feel awkward. I’m relieved when she asks, “Can we walk together?”
There’s something almost pure about Jane. As if though the very idea of walking with someone on the beach is a novelty. In my case, it is. Ever since I got out of detention, I’ve been walkingon the beach every chance I get, but it’s always alone. It’s just nice to walk. There’s something that feels so free about it.
