Page 26 of Forged in Flames (Made of Steel 2)

"Well, I mean, I still do. But it's different now." Looking at them without you was never the same. I put my hand on the railing of the elevator as it started its descent. "Looking at them alone is so..."

"Isolating."

Exactly. "Is that why you come to the observatory alone on a Saturday night? To isolate yourself?"

"Maybe I've just been waiting for someone to want to come with me."

I laughed. "We've had this conversation before, Mr. Popular." I gestured toward him. "Any girl on campus would be thrilled to spend a night under the stars with you." I know I would.

"You don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?"

He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "People see me a certain way. A jock. Captain of the soccer team. Econ major. A future bright with a boring desk job pushing papers." He shook his head. "But no one ever takes the time to really see me."

I see you. I feel your pain. The elevator doors dinged opened. I didn't want him to be sad. And I didn't want tonight to end. I wanted to dance with him under the moonlight. I wanted him to hold me tight and not let go. I wanted to laugh under the stars with the boy I loved. Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through my blood. Or maybe it was just the fact that it killed me when there wasn't a smile on his lips. But I couldn't let tonight end on a sad note. The night was young, and so were we. I saw him. I had always seen him. This was the only way I could show him, without spilling my secret. "Come with me." I grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the elevator. "Let's show New York who you really are then."

"What does that mean?"

I laughed and pulled him across the street toward Central Park. God, I hadn't felt this alive in years. It was like we were running around in my grandmother's backyard playing tag. Tag! That would be perfect. I could always see him clearly because I knew all the things he liked. At least, I used to know. I let go of his hand and started walking backwards.

"When I was little, I wasn't scared of anything. I loved the feeling of the wind in my hair. And the grass between my toes. God, do you ever miss it?"

"Being a kid?"

"Yeah."

"Sometimes, I guess."

"You guess? I know you miss it." Because you miss me. You miss the little girl who chased bunnies. The girl who stared at you like you were the brightest star in the sky. I leaned down and started unlacing my sneakers.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

I kicked off my shoes and socks and stepped into the grass. "Doing what I love." And I know you love it too.

He just shook his head.

"You're it," I said and lightly tapped his chest. I took a step back from him.

"You're so drunk."

"That doesn't mean you're not it." I turned away and started running through the grass. "Come and get me!"

"You're going to get us arrested!" he called after me.

But when I turned around, I saw him kicking off his shoes too.

I knew Miles Young. And I knew he wouldn't let me get very far without him.

Chapter 12

Saturday

My feet slid in the dew on the grass as I changed direction at the last moment. I landed with a thud on my butt. Ow. I quickly pushed myself up and ran behind the huge rock beside me. I stopped to catch my breath. Every time he was it, he tagged me almost immediately. Maybe hiding was a better tactic.

I tiptoed around the edge of the rock. As I peered around the side, he suddenly appeared. I squealed as he grabbed me around the waist. He lifted me up over his shoulder and spun me around. Our laughter was all I could hear. The sound almost brought tears to my eyes.

He slowly lowered me down, keeping my body pressed firmly against his. My buzz was wearing off, but when I was with him, it still felt like my head was spinning. When he set me down on my feet, he kept his arms wrapped around me. I hadn't even realized I was cold. But I knew if I stepped away from him I'd shiver.

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