Page 56 of To Catch a Firefly

“Fine,” he answers.

We’re both quiet for a moment as I find news about the storm. We’ll have to wait for the tornado warning to pass before we leave the shelter. They cautioned about the storm system on the news, of course, but it’s never easy to tell when the tornadoes will come. They’re unpredictable. Wild flights of nature. There’s no stopping them, only running.

“I can’t say I missed this part,” Lucky says, leaning against the cobblestone wall and crossing his arms. The floor in here is packed dirt, and cobwebs hang in the corners of the room, but at least there’s a working light.

“Thirteen years old,” I point out.

Lucky rolls his eyes, but he’s fighting a smile. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

I shake my head.

“Well, don’t worry,” Lucky says, “I have no plans to take up tornado chasing.”

Good to know, but it doesn’t stop the tornadoes from chasingus.

Lucky lets out a little breath, his expression turning serious. He eyes me closely, and my pulse kicks back up. “We’re going to talk about it.”

There’s no use askingabout what?

Lucky pushes off from the wall, taking a step forward. “I kissed you.”

I nod, breathing through my nose as he slowly closes the distance between us, stalking me, it would seem. I sure feel like prey.

“Ellis,” he says, less than a foot away now. “You kissed me back.”

No denying it. I incline my head again.

His eyes slip closed for a breath in time, and then they’re opening, a slow-blossoming smile on his face as he reaches for me.

“Luck,” I croak out, tensing as he removes my hat. His fingers rake through my hair, and I nearly groan. “Don’t.”

He goes stock-still at the one word, his gaze flashing to mine. “What?” he asks, like he’s not sure he heard me right.

“Don’t,” I repeat, closing my eyes.Please. “I can’t…”

His touch feathers away, and it feels like the worst thing. “Why?” he asks, clearly confused.

I keep my eyes shut because I’m afraid to see his face. Afraid to see if I’m disappointing him.

“You said there was only one person you wanted,” he repeats.

I nod, my eyes welling.

“Me?” he asks, like he’s suddenly unsure. Like he’s suddenly doubting, when I know for a fact he figured it out. I don’t knowhow, but he did. His lips crashing into mine made that abundantly clear.

But I don’t know what this means forhim. And if this is some flippant, passing thing or, hell, afavorto knock sex off my bucket list, I don’t want it. I wouldn’t be able tobearit. I can’tstart something with Lucky only to lose him. Not like that. It would destroy me.

I nod slowly in answer, my heart in my throat.Yes, you.

He makes a small, wounded sound. “Then why… Why can’t we…”

I force my eyes open as the door rattles above us. The radio continues its stream of information—“Tornado spotted off Summit Street, heading west toward Baker”—but my attention is on Lucky.

“Can’t if… I… Y-you…” I have to pause, my words getting all jumbled. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t get them to come out right. “Meaningless.Can’t.”

Lucky’s face falls for the briefest of moments before he shudders out a breath. “El,” he says, almost in relief. He steps in close again, hand hovering near me but not touching. “Do you really think anything between me and you could be meaningless?”

My swallow is heavy.

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