Page 35 of The Other Half

I look over at the digital clock on my desk that reads 6:12 AM in glowing red numerals. I don’t want to wake her, she looks so peaceful, so delicate. But I have to make sure she gets home before 7:00.

I know we’re way too young to be planning our futures around a relationship, but I don’t want this to end. I know that if she moves away it will probably have to. I can’t let this slip through my fingers. The thought of it hurts my heart. I fucking love her. It sounds weird, even to me, but I’m in love. At seventeen. I’m a dumbass, what the fuck have I gotten myself into?

I feel her start to wiggle in my arms as she wakes up, and her eyes softly flutter open.

I press a kiss to her forehead. “Morning.”

“Good morning.”

“It’s almost 6:30.”

She startles and sits up in the bed, her eyes wide. “Fuck…” she says as she runs her fingers through her tangled hair.

I chuckle. “I’ve got you cussing and having sex now. I’m turning you into a heathen.”

She rolls her eyes as her face turns pink. “Was that your plan?”

I shake my head. “No. I like that you’re such a good girl. It turns me on, actually.”

I slide my hand up her thigh and slip my fingertips under the boxers I let her borrow. I hear her sigh and watch as she flutters her eyes closed. Flashes of last night appear in my mind. The sensual look in her green eyes as I slid inside her for the first time, the sweet sound of her moans. And now I’m hard as a rock again.

I roll on top of her, wishing she didn’t have to leave.

“I have to go,” she whispers.

I press a quick kiss to her lips. “I know.” I brush her frizzy, morning hair out of her face. “Come back tonight.”

She nods. “Okay.”

* * *

I walk her back to her neighborhood gate. The grass is encapsulated in a thin layer of frost, and we can see our breaths when we exhale. This is probably the coldest morning so far this year. The cold doesn’t bother me too much, after living without heat in our house all my life I’ve grown accustomed to layering up. I can tell Oakley is uncomfortable though, so I take off my coat and wrap it around her shoulders.

The sun is just beginning to peek through the fog over the mountain tops, and it turns the sky a beautiful shade of cotton candy pink.

During our walk I silently wish that she didn’t have to go home. Or that we at least didn’t have to wait until the next night to see each other again. I wish we could be a normal couple that goes on dates. I wish I could pick her up at her doorstep, open the passenger side door for her, shake hands with her dad and tell him I’ll have her home by 10. But I don’t have a car, and her dad is a worthless piece of shit.

I stare at the gate as we walk towards it. It separates us in more ways than one. I wish I could bulldoze the motherfucker down.

I pull her into my chest, feeling her shiver against me. “You’re shivering.”

“It’s fucking cold.”

I can’t help but laugh when she cusses. It still sounds so unnatural. “You need to get some warmer clothes, babe.”

“I’m not used to being outside in this type of weather.”

I suddenly feel guilty. I shouldn’t have her out when it’s this cold. It’s selfish of me.

“I’ll see you later?” she asks, looking up at me.

“Yeah. I’ll be back to get you tonight.” I brush my lips over hers, and I don’t want our kiss to end but I know it has to quickly. I pull away despite how badly I don’t want to.

“I love you,” I whisper, pressing my forehead to hers, and I watch a smile spread across her beautiful face.

“I love you,” she replies.

Chapter 30

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