Page 56 of Styx & Stones

“I’m not going to touch her if she doesn’t want me to.”

“If I call the cops now, you’ll spend the night in the waiting room at the police station until your parents can get down here to pick you up. You’ve got until first light. You stay here where it’s warm and safe, but that truck better be out of my campground before my grocery delivery tomorrow at seven a.m.”

Styx nods. “Yes, sir.”

“I’ll report it then, but we never had this conversation.”

“Thank you.” I sniff back my tears.

He nods. “Drop your key in the deposit box by the office.”

“Will do. Thanks, man.”

“Good luck with your surgery, and no more drinking,” He says. “I hope you kids make it. I really do.”

I’m not sure if he means to Disney or through cancer. I’m not sure it matters. We could die in our sleep tonight. All we have is right now. It is the only guarantee life has given us, and I plan to make every millisecond count.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

STYX

Ipull into a gas stationand turn off the truck.

“Race you for the restroom,” Stones says, her smile wide and unassuming. I just stare at her. I can’t believe she’s here with me. I can’t believe I’m this lucky. The fact that she’s even deemed me important enough to talk to, let alone kiss, touch, and run away with is a goddamn miracle.

“What? Do I have Cheetos in my teeth?” She flashes perfect pearly whites at me, and I grin and shake my head.

“Your teeth are fucking perfect, Stones. Just like the rest of you.”

Her eyes grow wide, like me thinking she’s gorgeous is news. She hurtles across the center console and grabs the cords on my hoodie, pulling me in for a kiss. I slide my fingers into her hair and kiss her so deep she moans. The car behind us honks, and we break apart and grin. “I think your teeth are fucking perfect too.”

I laugh and pull away, opening my door. “Go pee, Stones. I need a minute away from you to calm down and lose my boner.” I slide out of the car and adjust things below.

“For the record, your boner is perfect too,” she shouts.

Chuckling, I slam the door. The guy behind us flips me off, and I mouth“sorry” but he’s an asshole so I’m not really sorry about making him wait while I kiss my girl. His Dodge Dart pulls out, the tires screeching on the concrete as he drives off.