Read Online Still Point by Katie Kacvinsky - Free Book Online

to be outside. The night air was foggy and cool and smelled sour, a common effect from the wet turf grass.
    We sprinted down the dark street, past people fumbling with tiny beams of light. I lost Baley and stopped to listen for her collar tags when a hand suddenly grabbed my arm. Out of instinct, I swung my free arm up to try to elbow whoever was holding me, but the person let go in time to catch my flying wrist and pin it against my side. Before I could scream, a familiar voice cut through my panic.
    â€œIt’s good to see you too.”
    My eyes were still adjusting.
    â€œJustin,” I breathed.
    He let go of my arm, and I realized his other hand was holding Baley’s collar. I bent down and attached her leash while Justin scratched her ears. My heart was still hammering from the jolt of surprise, and my lungs burned from the sprint.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” I panted.
    â€œI wanted to talk to you.”
    My eyes adjusted well enough to see him. He was wearing a baseball cap backwards and a black soccer jersey, as if he had been sitting on the couch, bored, and decided to get up and shut down the city power just for kicks. He hadn’t shaved in a while, and a light stubble was growing in.
    â€œLook at what you did,” I said. People were stumbling in the grass, fidgeting with flashlights, and staring anxiously around the empty street like being outside at night was as terrifying as a haunted house. One woman tripped over a curb and stared down like she had never seen one before. A tree branch hit her arm, and it made her scream and lash out like she was being attacked.
    He smiled. “It’s pretty funny sometimes.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “Are you trying to intercept someone?” I asked.
    â€œI was,” he said, and looked at me. “I found her.”
    â€œThis was for me?” I asked.
    He nodded. “We were interrupted at the benefit.”
    I looked around. “You did all this because you want to talk?”
    â€œYou don’t like my romantic gesture?” he asked, and I rolled my eyes. “I can’t call you. How else was I supposed to get you out of the house?”
    Someone screamed in the distance.
    â€œWhy do you feel the need to cause mass chaos everywhere you go?” I asked him. I wiped off a layer of sweat beading on my forehead.
    He took a step closer to me, and even in the darkness I could see his eyes were hard. “Why do you make it so impossible to see you? First a detention center, now the impenetrable fortress of Kevin Freeman?”
    â€œI thought guys liked a challenge.”
    He shook his head. “No, we really don’t. A little mystery in the beginning is okay, but this is getting old.”
    I blew out a sigh. “I know.”
    â€œI needed to see you,” he said. “I want to finish our conversation.”
    â€œThat’s right,” I said. “Now I get the chance to tell you how I feel about you.”
    He grinned. “That you’re more in love with me than ever?” he asked.
    â€œNo, that you’re more of an idiot than ever,” I said.
    His smile faded. “What?”
    â€œI didn’t leave Eden because I was breaking up with you,” I told him. “I can’t believe that idea even crossed your mind.”
    He shrugged one shoulder. “Yeah, Clare tried to explain it to me.”
    â€œAnd you didn’t believe her?” I asked.
    A piece of hair broke loose from my ponytail, and Justin brushed it back off my face, letting his fingers linger on my cheek. “I don’t like secondhand information. I prefer to hear it from the source.”
    â€œThat’s why you’re here?”
    He dropped his hand. “I thought you left California because you were leaving me, but after I saw you last night, I knew I was wrong. That’s why I’m here. I came to get you.”
    My eyebrows rose. “Right now?”
    He nodded and laced his