Read Online Impossibly Forever: Two Books in One (Impossibly Duology) by Shane Morgan - Free Book Online Page B

THIRTEEN

    Moya
     
       Saturday evening , I went for a walk around town alone, relaxing in the
easygoing atmosphere of the strip near my neighborhood. Momma was working the
night shift at Thompson’s and Nessa was having dinner with Calvin. I didn’t
want to stay in the house a second longer, so I figured the night air would be
great.
      
I had failed miserably at keeping Branden off my mind. I kept thinking about
him more since I saw his face by the parking lot, how exhausted he seemed, and
of course, when he placed his hand on mine at the campus café. Branden left a
mark on me that followed me to Berlin Heights.
      
I wondered how he was doing, what he was doing, why he never seemed to go home
for weekends even though he lived in Harrington, and why he was so sad at
times. I even thought of what would’ve happened if Vanessa hadn’t sent me a
text. How far would these feelings have led me?
      
Argh, I shook my curls in frustration. I was so entangled in all things Branden
that it was practically like I was going in slow motion while everyone moved
rapidly by me on the sidewalk.
      
The night air wasn’t helping at all.
      
I decided to get French Vanilla ice cream and pig out at home while watching
movies. That would distract my thoughts long enough to forget altogether.
      
As I turned the corner to enter the store, I glimpsed someone looking a lot
like Branden leaving the Italian restaurant across the street.
      
“Branden,” I whispered his name, discerning I had to have imagined him. That I
wished to see him so badly, I was hallucinating now. Then, I heard his voice,
that deep and comforting voice that shook me on the inside and I knew it was
really him.
      
Impulsively, I darted across the street, not caring about the cars that had to
stomp on their brakes suddenly to avoid hitting me. Good Lord. Before leaving
Berlin Heights for college, I was hell bent on not letting anyone in. Now,
there I was, almost getting killed chasing after a guy I was starting to like.
      
Finally I reached him, heading to the parking lot with three other people. I
called his name, “Branden!”
      
He turned, and a sudden spark went off in my chest. Branden’s blue eyes
expanded with delight as he realized it was me. “Moya.”
      
I panted, trying to steady my heart. What did my abrupt gesture mean? I’d spent
the last few days trying to avoid him in school yet being so close to him at
the café on Friday and seeing Branden tonight had me in frenzy.
      
The older version of Branden cleared his throat and the classy woman standing
beside him asked, “Who is this young lady?”
      
I scanned their faces carefully and concluded that it must’ve been his family.
Branden’s dad had a stern, no nonsense look on his face. Observing him, I saw
where Branden got his striking features and admirable height. Unlike his wife,
who had healthy and shiny looking golden blond hair, Branden’s dad had salt and
pepper like black hair.
      
“Oh, sorry, this is my friend from school, Moya,” Branden introduced. “Moya,
this is my mom, Debbie, my dad Scott, and my brother, Ashton.”
      
They each lifted a hand to shake mine. I was happy they seemed nice, only a
little disappointed Branden referred to me as his friend. It ruined the reason
why I was chasing after him to begin with.
      
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, focusing on Branden as I asked, “What are you
doing here? I thought you lived in Harrington?”
      
He explained, “Ash is a wide receiver on Jones College football team. He had a
game out here so we came to support him.”
      
Ashton chimed in. “How come I’ve never seen a pretty girl like you before?
Branden’s been keeping you all to himself.”
      
I gushed. He was quite the smooth talker.
      
Branden jabbed a playful elbow in Ashton’s side, his amused chortle a
surprising contrast to the awkward glances of their parents. Their body
language seemed odd, as if they