Read Online Dusk (Young Adult Paranormal Romance) by Amy Durham - Free Book Online
Authors: Amy Durham
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which meant as Adrian walked to my house for our homework session, he was not roasting in the sun.
Pre-Cal homework had become our standing date. Weird, but nice. And pretty special.
And given that I was still on a short leash with my mom, it was the kind of date she couldn’t object to.
I caught sight of him as he rounded the curve just shy of my driveway. He looked almost surreal, like some kind of angel descending into my life, not just a friendly neighbor walking down the road.
Yesterday during our homework session, he’d encouraged me to think about running for student government. I resisted the idea, but the more I’d thought about his logic, the more sense it made. He said I shouldn’t let my dad’s bad judgment or the tragedy that took his life keep me from doing the things I enjoyed. He said that would be like letting the bad guys win. It was still difficult to imagine myself in the role of class president, but maybe I could find a happy medium.
“You look like someone with a secret,” he said, striding to the picnic table and taking a seat beside me.
I felt like I had a secret. Sitting here each afternoon with Adrian, as I’d been for the past week, I felt like I’d found some kind of treasure no one else knew about. Whatever it was that was budding between us, it was the most delicious secret of my life.
“I think I’m going to run for student government.”
He scooted closer and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “I’m glad.”
“But not for president.” The warmth of his kiss stayed on my skin, and I smiled. “Maybe for reporter or secretary. Something a little more low-key. I’ll tell Mr. Austin tomorrow.”
“Great idea.” He took my hand in both of his. “Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.” So much of the time our conversations wound up centering on me and my neuroses, but I never wanted him to feel like this relationship – or whatever it was – was all one-sided. “You can tell me anything.”
“I’m happy.” He tilted his head, his baby blues locking on mine. “Really happy. I didn’t expect that when I came here.”
I couldn’t have stopped the huge grin that spread across my face if someone had offered me a million dollars.
“You like that?” he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Yeah.” I couldn’t suppress the giggle. “The idea that I could make someone happy. Make you happy. I like that idea.”
The truth was, I’d given my family and friends so much grief over the past few months I’d forgotten what it felt like to actually do something positive for another person. Selfishness was a dark pit, and it was nice to think maybe I was climbing my way out.
“Not just happy,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to mine. “Really happy.”
My only response was a heavy sigh. I had no words. None.
“I figured coming here would be like anything else, just something I needed to do. Finish high school. Hang out with Aunt Maggie. I didn’t expect this. You.”
This close, I could feel his breath on my cheek. I caught the minty scent of toothpaste.
He leaned in even closer, his lips moving against my cheek.
“Zoe?”
“Hmmm?” Coherency was not possible at the moment.
“I’m really, really happy.”
He kissed me then, and holy cow! Happiness I didn’t deserve took root in my heart, blooming brightly in every corner of my soul. His arms came around me, wrapping me in the sweet serenity his presence had come to represent, and yet there was so much more.
He was excitement and expectation and, yes… let’s face it… passion. No denying it. The passion was definitely there. At least on my side of things.
And if the way he pulled me closer, held me tighter, and amped up the intensity of the kiss was any indication, it was there for him, too.
How crazy was that? That I could inspire a response like this from a guy who could’ve had any girl he wanted.
I felt his reluctance as he pulled away. Felt my own reluctance in the pit of my
Pre-Cal homework had become our standing date. Weird, but nice. And pretty special.
And given that I was still on a short leash with my mom, it was the kind of date she couldn’t object to.
I caught sight of him as he rounded the curve just shy of my driveway. He looked almost surreal, like some kind of angel descending into my life, not just a friendly neighbor walking down the road.
Yesterday during our homework session, he’d encouraged me to think about running for student government. I resisted the idea, but the more I’d thought about his logic, the more sense it made. He said I shouldn’t let my dad’s bad judgment or the tragedy that took his life keep me from doing the things I enjoyed. He said that would be like letting the bad guys win. It was still difficult to imagine myself in the role of class president, but maybe I could find a happy medium.
“You look like someone with a secret,” he said, striding to the picnic table and taking a seat beside me.
I felt like I had a secret. Sitting here each afternoon with Adrian, as I’d been for the past week, I felt like I’d found some kind of treasure no one else knew about. Whatever it was that was budding between us, it was the most delicious secret of my life.
“I think I’m going to run for student government.”
He scooted closer and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “I’m glad.”
“But not for president.” The warmth of his kiss stayed on my skin, and I smiled. “Maybe for reporter or secretary. Something a little more low-key. I’ll tell Mr. Austin tomorrow.”
“Great idea.” He took my hand in both of his. “Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.” So much of the time our conversations wound up centering on me and my neuroses, but I never wanted him to feel like this relationship – or whatever it was – was all one-sided. “You can tell me anything.”
“I’m happy.” He tilted his head, his baby blues locking on mine. “Really happy. I didn’t expect that when I came here.”
I couldn’t have stopped the huge grin that spread across my face if someone had offered me a million dollars.
“You like that?” he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Yeah.” I couldn’t suppress the giggle. “The idea that I could make someone happy. Make you happy. I like that idea.”
The truth was, I’d given my family and friends so much grief over the past few months I’d forgotten what it felt like to actually do something positive for another person. Selfishness was a dark pit, and it was nice to think maybe I was climbing my way out.
“Not just happy,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to mine. “Really happy.”
My only response was a heavy sigh. I had no words. None.
“I figured coming here would be like anything else, just something I needed to do. Finish high school. Hang out with Aunt Maggie. I didn’t expect this. You.”
This close, I could feel his breath on my cheek. I caught the minty scent of toothpaste.
He leaned in even closer, his lips moving against my cheek.
“Zoe?”
“Hmmm?” Coherency was not possible at the moment.
“I’m really, really happy.”
He kissed me then, and holy cow! Happiness I didn’t deserve took root in my heart, blooming brightly in every corner of my soul. His arms came around me, wrapping me in the sweet serenity his presence had come to represent, and yet there was so much more.
He was excitement and expectation and, yes… let’s face it… passion. No denying it. The passion was definitely there. At least on my side of things.
And if the way he pulled me closer, held me tighter, and amped up the intensity of the kiss was any indication, it was there for him, too.
How crazy was that? That I could inspire a response like this from a guy who could’ve had any girl he wanted.
I felt his reluctance as he pulled away. Felt my own reluctance in the pit of my
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