Running From You

Chapter 42

I clench my teeth. "Doesn't seem like it."

"What can I do to make it right?" he asks, sounding desperate. "I can't lose you, Nora."

I lean my head against the porch trailing. "I don't want to lose you, either. But we can't go on like this."

"So, what do we do?"

"I don't know," I tell him. I can't magic him to trust me, nor can he do the same for me. I miss him. These past few weeks have been hard with us being so distant.

The front door opens behind me and I look back over my shoulder to see mom peeking her head out.

"What are you doing sitting outside?" she frowns.

"I..." I show her the phone. "Tyler," I mouth at her and she nods, then retreats back inside. "I have to go," I say to the phone. "We'll talk more tomorrow after practice?"

"Sure," he agrees and we end the call.

I get up and stretch my stiff limbs before heading inside. I'm so tired I crash the instant my head touches a pillow.

---

Practice is grueling. I'm absolutely exhausted by the end of it, and collapse on the field. Around me my teammates start heading to the locker rooms.

I lie there on my back, basking in the sun, when someone drops down next to me. I turn my head to the side and find myself looking into Tyler's eyes.

"Hey," I say. I comes out as almost a whisper.

"Hi," he smiles a little.

We lie there for a long time looking at each other, neither knowing what to say next.

He's the first one to break the silence. "Are we still going to prom tomorrow?"

"Of course," I tell him,  a twinkle in my eye. "I didn't buy that dress to just let it hang in the closet."

"Of course not, what was I thinking," he grins, shaking his head.

He's so handsome when he's not moping. I can't help but stare at his mouth, my eyes drawn to his lips. He notices, his demeanor changing at once. His grin wades and his brown eyes search my face. He's closer, somehow having moved without a sound. I can see the flecks of hazel in his irises, splattered here and there among the dark brown.

His cool breath tickles my nose. My heart skips a beat. His lips meet mine in a soft caress, igniting a fire inside me. My hand finds the back of his neck, my fingers playing with his short hair, and his eyes close to the touch. I pull him closer, dragging his mouth to mine. He responds eagerly.

I lick his bottom lip and he opens his lips to me, letting me explore his mouth, before wrestling back control. My heart is hammering so loud in my chest I'm sure he can hear it.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" A familiar voice interrupts our haze. "Really, guys? On the field?"

I sign and detach myself from Tyler, drudging up to a sitting position to glare up at Olive, who's walking towards us, already changed from her running gear to a summer dress. "Really, O? Couldn't let us have a few more minutes?"

She huffs. "Puh-lease. A few more minutes and you would've been naked, no matter who saw."

I roll my eyes at her. "We were alone just a second ago."

"And now you're not," she sends a dazzling smile our way. "Get up, buttercup, our appointment is in thirty minutes and you still need to take a shower and change. The others went ahead already, but since you're my ride..."

"Where are you going?" Tyler asks, looking between us.

"Mani-pedis," I respond, wiggling my fingers at him. "For prom." My friends and I are having a girls day today, pampering ourselves to the max in preparation for tomorrow.

"No boys allowed" Olive shakes her finger at Tyler. "Evan's waiting for you, by the way. He said something about catching a game tonight?"

Tyler nods and gets up, offering me a hand. I take it and he pulls me up gracefully. "I'll see you tomorrow," he pulls me to him and plants a soft kiss on my lips that makes my knees go weak. "Later, buzzkill," he waves at Olive, who glares daggers at his back.

I stare after him, my mind still reeling from the kiss.

"Stop staring at his ass and let's go!" Olive hooks her arm with mine and starts dragging me off the field. It's a really nice ass, though.