Circle in the Sand by Lia Fairchild Page B

me to close my eyes and
     that I had to keep them closed no matter what. I was nervous and excited, so I was
     happy to oblige him and play along by closing my eyes.” I stop at that point in the
     story and shrug.
    “So?” Ned says.
    “Sorry, that’s all you get. Someday I might tell you the rest.”
    Emily and Sage have heard the ending plenty of times. When I go back to that moment
     all those feelings come rushing back, and I’m not sure I want that vulnerability to
     surface in front of Ned. So I don’t tell him how Mr. X came from behind the tree and
     stopped in front of me, so close I felt his breath on my lips. And I don’t say how
     he slipped a hand behind my lower back and pulled me even closer, so that my chest
     was pressed against his and I gasped. Or how I parted my lips and he whispered into
     them, “Keep your eyes closed.” There was something so seductive about it, I probably
     would have done anything he said. Then he brushed the hair from my forehead and slid
     two fingers down the side of my cheek. He had to have felt the heat on my skin beneath
     his touch. His lips planted a tiny peck on the corner of my mouth, readying me for
     his kiss. But instead, his head moved to my neck. He kissed my collarbone and then
     slid his lips all the way up my neck and to just underneath my jawline, sending electrical
     shocks to every part of my body. Finally, his mouth made it to mine, hovering over
     it for a moment, or possibly forever if you ask my heart, then all at once devouring
     me in a long, slow kiss that somehow had much more meaning than something between
     two strangers. When he pulled away, and his hand slide from my waist, I kept my eyes
     shut, hoping to somehow contain the moment. But then suddenly I knew his presence
     was gone, and I opened my eyes.
    “C’mon, Jax. I won’t laugh,” Ned says. “I promise.”
    I smile and walk to the grill to double check it’s off, content with myself. Sage
     and Emily love that story because it’s something only I would have done. Whatever
     they think of me and what I’ve done with my life, I believe there’s always going to
     be a small part of them that envy that memory. An experience that shows I had no regrets
     growing up because I lived by instinct. I only wish I could still say that’s true.
     
    ●●●
     
    Later, we take chairs down to the grassy area next to the rocks and sand. It’s still
     fairly cold out, but the wind will soon die down as the sun sets. Despite the temperature,
     there are people down by the water, and families on the grass and in the play area.
     Emily and Ned play paddle ball, showing off the fact that they still have the special
     twin synchronicity. 
    Sage and I are watching and I can’t stop myself from counting the number of hits.
     Ned dives for one that’s too far left and actually saves it. It’s the most sporty
     thing I’ve seen him do in years. He says he plays basketball with his friends, but
     I’ve never seen it.
    “I know you’re counting,” Sage says to me as I swag my head back and forth. “Stop
     that and talk to me.”
    “What do you want to talk about?” I say, not looking at her.
    “Dad says you never called Ian Shepard about that admin position.”
    This causes me to lose count, and I turn her way. This is not the first time Sage
     has tried to arrange an interview for some job for me. You’d think she’d learn. “Sage,
     I told you…”
    “I know. You can’t work in an office. But there’s much more to this than sitting around
     answering phones.”
    “Oh, you mean traveling with him to meetings, taking notes, and handing him his towel
     when he gets out of the shower? No thanks.”
    “Of course not,” Sage says. “I was only trying to help you.”
    I’m sure she believes that, but still it bothers me that she assumes I’m not happy
     doing what I’m doing.
    The ball flies past Ned and rolls near our feet. When he comes to retrieve it, he
     says, “Can one of