Read Online Color the Sidewalk for Me by Brandilyn Collins - Free Book Online

Kevin. He’s shiverin’ somethin’ awful.”
    â€œOkay, I w–will. Sorry I’m bein’ so stupid.”
    â€œYou’re not bein’ stupid.”
    Danny’s unexpected empathy pulled another sob from me. I tried to apologize for the third time but couldn’t talk, so I just shook my head.
    â€œOh, brother,” Danny said, sighing. He put his hands halfway around my back and we stood awkwardly for a minute. “Come on, stop now.” He patted the back of my head as he would a whimpering puppy.
    â€œOkay.” Swallowing hard, I raised my head to look at him, hiccuping. His hair was plastered against his forehead, droplets of water still on his neck, green irises vivid against chilled skin. Our eyes met and held, an unreadable expression flickering across his face. As the last cry died in my throat, something changed inside me. I was suddenly, acutely aware of Danny Cander’s arm warming my shoulders and how close we were. A tingle ran through my nerves. Blinking hard, I stepped back quickly, his arms falling away and his cheeks flushing a deep red. “I’m sorry. I’m okay now.” I dropped my eyes, turning to lean down at Kevy’s side. My brother’s eyes were not quite focused. “Kevy. You okay?”
    He nodded, reaching for my hand. I grasped him tightly, my fingers turning white. A shiver shook his body. “I’m c–cold.”
    â€œI know, Kevy. We’ll get you warm.” I turned to catch Danny staring at me. Flustered, he glanced away. It’s okay, I wanted to assure him. Don’t worry about it. “Danny, your T-shirt. It’s still dry, remember?”
    For a moment his face was blank. “Oh. Yeah.”
    â€œCan you run get it?”
    His brow knit with concern. “Yeah. Sure.”
    I smiled at him briefly. Slowly he smiled back. Then he was off, loping barefoot over the rocks upstream.
    â€œCelia.” Kevy rubbed my hand. I turned toward him.
    â€œYes, little brother. What is it?”
    â€œDid you get my fishin’ pole?”

chapter 9
    W ith Danny’s shirt reaching to his knees, Kevy lay on the ground, still shivering. I wished girls could go shirtless as Danny was; my bra chafed and my damp shirt was smeared with dirt and blood. I must look a sight, I thought.
    â€œKevy, can you walk?” I squatted beside him.
    He rolled his head, teeth chattering. “I’m s–so cold.” His cheeks were still unnaturally white, each freckle a dark contrast. I shot Danny a concerned look.
    He nodded. “We gotta git him somewhere quick, git him warm.”
    I was tired enough to lie beside Kevy and go to sleep. I tried to think of the closest place to take him, but my brain wouldn’t work. “What should we do?”
    Rubbing his forehead, Danny looked across the field that bordered the riverbank. His hair was half dry and looked good in a messed-up way. I took in his strong profile and the length of his black lashes. One hand was on the hip of his wet jeans, the other dangling, his muscles well defined. He’d been wearing his shoes and socks when he returned, and he’d picked up Kevy’s shoes as well. He must have hurt his feet on his way up the riverbank, but he wasn’t complaining. I glanced at the cuts on my palms and knees. They had stopped bleeding, although they stung a little.
    Danny and I were keeping our distance. I knew he was thinking about our hug, too, was probably even more embarrassed than I. It wasn’t his fault any more than mine; it just happened. The whole thing was almost funny. If anybody had told me I’d end up clinging to Danny Cander today, sobbing on his shoulder, I’d have laughed myself silly. He shifted awkwardly under my gaze, our eyes meeting. I made sure not to glance away, lest he think I still had that particular moment in mind.
    â€œWe should take him to my house.”
    I tried to hide my surprise but it was