Page 27 of Cloudless

EVERYTHING

KAM

The flames flicker in the fire pit as the smoke reaches toward the stars. Posey’s hair tickles my neck as she shifts in her sleep on my shoulder. Her deep exhale makes me smile as she burrows further into me.

The light from the fire dances across Lila’s smiling face next to me. “I think they’re worn out.”

My laugh is quiet so I don’t wake Posey. “Playing in the water all day will do that. I’m pretty worn out, too.”

Ellie smiles as she runs her fingers through a sleeping Jasper’s hair as he lies on a towel next to her. “They wore me out, that’s for sure. My legs will be sore tomorrow from all the running through the water.”

Dax’s legs move closer to the fire as he stretches out on a towel across from me. “They gave us a better workout than Coach.”

Mace groans next to him. “For the love of all things hockey, never mention that to him or he’ll have us skating suicides.

” A shiver runs through him that I’m sure has nothing to do with the chill in the air, and everything to do with vomiting his favorite Italian food after the last time we had to skate suicides.

A rare smile takes over Wyatt’s face as his eyes scan over our group.

Dax’s booming laugh causes Posey to stir on my shoulder. “It’s not my fault you have a weak stomach.”

I rub slow circles on Posey’s back as I shift her onto a towel next to me. Pins and needles race through my arms as I shake the feeling back into them.

Her nose scrunches as she turns her back to the fire and settles onto her side.

Lila’s eyes soften as she takes in her sister's peaceful sleeping form. Her voice is soft as she looks around the fire. “I could never thank you guys enough for all you’ve done for us.”

Ellie nudges Lila’s shoulder as smiles flow through our group. “You’re one of us now. We take care of our own.”

Lila’s eyes mirror the fire's reflection as she turns to study my face. Her voice is barely a whisper. “Yeah. I’m beginning to see that.”

Conversation flows to the upcoming game around us as our eyes stay locked together. As I lean closer, a bubble of solitude forms around us. “Take a walk with me, Sunshine.”

The start of a smile appears before it vanishes to be replaced by a furrowed brow. Her eyes move between her siblings as she shakes her head. “I can’t leave them.”

Ellie gently grabs Lila’s hand as a no-nonsense look takes over her face. “They’ll be fine here with us. Go on.”

They share a silent look before Lila’s eyes return to mine. “Okay.”

I raise my eyebrows as a smile takes over my face. “Yeah?”

Her smile returns as she nods. “Yeah. You’ve got thirty minutes, Trouble.”

My head spins as I stand too quickly after a day in the sun. I extend my hand to her, palm up, as a smile becomes a permanent fixture on my face. “We better make them count, then.”

Her hand slides into mine like it belongs there as I pull her to her feet.

We’re quiet as the warmth from the fire fades to be replaced by the chill in the night air.

The sand hardens beneath our feet as the sound of the waves grows closer. Flashes of green and purple light the pier on the horizon as the Ferris wheel spins.

The vastness of the dark ocean spreading before us makes me feel like I’m stranded in the expanse of space. It almost feels like we’re the only two people left in the world.

The minutes fly by as the pier looms closer. I’m already mourning the loss of our solitude. “We should probably head back.”

Tendrils of her hair reach for me in the wind. Her voice barely rises above the roar of the waves. “Yeah. You’re probably right.”

I follow her bare footprints as she turns back toward the way we came. We drift toward the water’s edge until Lila’s silhouette breaks the streak of moonlight reflecting off the surface.

The first wave washes over her feet and bubbles on its way back to its rightful place.

“Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

Her hair glows in the moonlight as she looks over her shoulder with a smile on her face. “What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

Her smile dances in her eyes. “That’s a tall order, Trouble.”

I mimic her smile as a wave comes within inches of my feet. “I’ll settle for one thing then. At least for now.”

“I don’t really know what to tell you. I’m not very interesting.”

Her eyes are free of clouds as I follow her into the water. I might just follow her anywhere if she keeps looking at me like this. “That’s pretty subjective. And you, Sunshine, happen to be my new favorite subject.” The warm water rushes over my feet as I close in on her.

The water rises on our legs as she backs away from me. Her voice is so quiet, it almost disappears into the darkness. “I ran track in high school.”

I shake my head as my eyes roam over her face. “Not good enough.”

Her smile falls as the surrounding air turns serious. “What do you mean?”

“If I’m settling for one thing, you better make it good.”

She tilts her head as she thinks. “I, uh, I like to read.”

I shake my head again as the water pulls on my legs as I pull on her walls. I beg them to fall and let me in. “Try again. You can do better than that.”

“I’m, uh, a business major.”

The solitude we’ve found in the water fuels my resolve. “Still not good enough.”

I can barely hear her voice over the rushing waves. “I don’t know what more you want from me.”

“I want something real. I want something that no one else knows.” My voice falls to a whisper. “Something that’s just for me.”

A war plays out on her face as her eyes search mine. The sound of the rushing waves and indecision fills the space between us.

Her eyelashes flutter against her cheeks as she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Apprehension is written all over her face as her eyes open and connect with mine. “I can’t imagine our future without you in it, Kam.”

Her words nearly steal the breath from my lungs. “You don’t have to.”

She shakes her head as the clouds move back to her eyes. “You don’t know that.”

“You’re right. There are very few certainties in life, but know this, Lila Mae Sullivan.

” Steel determination rings through my voice as I close the distance between us.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. With you.

For you. Beside you. Whatever you need. I want to be that for you.

” My voice falls to a whisper. “As long as you’ll let me. ”

The string of friendship we’ve woven between us pulls taut as she searches my face. I beg her with my eyes to cut the string and set me free so we can weave a new thread. A thread that seems so full of possibilities.

Laughter drifts to us from the shore. Lila’s eyes flick behind me before she takes a step back. The night air takes her place as she moves away from me. “Looks like your thirty minutes are up, Trouble.”

I know I’ll find our friends packing up if I glance over my shoulder, so I choose to stay in our bubble a bit longer. I grab Lila’s hand as she tries to walk back to shore. The clouds in her eyes move in and out of focus as she gazes up at me.

The cool chill of her skin seeps into my palm. “Come to my game tomorrow night.”

Her eyes flick back and forth between mine. I see the exact moment she gives herself permission. She can’t hide the trepidation in her voice. “Okay.”

I mourn the loss of her hand as soon as I let it go. The waves wash around my legs as I watch her walk away.

I know one thing for certain.

Thirty minutes will never be enough.