Page 125 (1/2)

"Yep," Joyce says, flipping off the kitchen light and sliding her half-fullthe dishes"

Good for you, Joyce

Houston watches her climb the steps, then turns his focus back toout withforith his hand, hesitantly "And why is there a chunk of…Pepto?"

"It’s paint," I correct

"Right…paint Why is there a bunch of pink paint in your hair?" he asks, touching it carefully, so cautious and afraid of pushing h

I step into hi when I do, and I hold his eyes while I rasp the badge on his shirt I smirk when I look at it, his naht even love all of Texas now for giving it to hier over the dent it left on his shirt, an excuse to let my hand touch the hardness of his chest underneath I peer up to see his hooded eyes staring down at e," he says, his voice barely a breath as he shakes his head, his eyes shutting as his head falls forward to rest on mine I bite my lip and relish the nearness ofhere in his ar up ainst hi the instant they touch, our tongues taking cautious tastes of one another’sit between his teeth for a second before slowly letting it slide loose, his head still against mine

"Followlike the weight of castles andon his shirt, leading hihter’s roo to disturb Leah, who I can hear hu to her anih for hinizes the material when he ss hard, and his eyes reflect the same expression as his mother’s

I’m not jealous over it I envy it, lad that he has those memories, and that I’ the away and quietly closing her door

I nod, then look to his e…" he starts, but stops just as quickly "I…I don’t knohat to say"

"You said a lot already," I whisper, lettingI ca with the words Saying this feels so a, and when his hands and lips don’t find ht away, I start to cry--like a child in line for the scariest ride of her life

I look at hi to see doubt, or disbelief, but instead, he looks just as happy and scared as I do