thanks to Dino’s quickened pace. We arrive at the barn just as the sun begins to disappear behind the hill, and I’m sad to have to leave Katherine after being so close to her all day. Her light has filled me, leaving a pleasant feeling of warmth in its wake. Shutting Dino into his stall, I walk across the barn and find Katherine sitting on the couch, eyes closed, lips whispering silent words into the empty air.
“All set,” I say, making her jump. Laughing, I apologize.
“I’d invite you to stay for dinner, but I’m not positive my aunt wouldn’t hit on you ,” she says, eyes widening slightly when she finished talking, cheeks reddening an adorable shade of rose.
Catching her eye, I raise my eyebrows and smirk. “You think I’m attractive?” I tease, lightly bumping my shoulder against hers. She watches her feet as we walk, but I can see her cheeks flush even more.
Suddenly, she looks up at me, the setting sun leaving a glint of light in her big green eyes. “How do you know my aunt? I know it’s a small town, but you seemed awfully… comfortable with her horse today. Unless you’re just a horse whisperer,” she jokes, but the curiosity is practically dripping from her words.
I groan internally, not wanting to further elaborate on my story at the moment. “Why don’t we save the questions for another day, and just enjoy the walk,” I say, releasing her hand and slyly putting my arm around her tiny shoulders. I feel her relax, which mak e s me relax.
“Promise?” she says, looking up at me through thick, dark eyelashes. Every time she blinks, my heart flutters a little faster; she bats her eyes instead of blinks. I try to think about manly things, like football and cars, but I’m too content to pretend to be something I’m not. I just let the flutters fill me and revel in her presence.
“I promise,” I chuckle, feeling her arm wrap around my waist. I feel something seep into me; something I’ve never felt before. It’s a warmth, a sugary sweetness that makes my mouth water. “What’s up with this?” I think to myself, and just as I think the words, I know the answer.
It’s happiness; Katherine’s happiness.
Chapter 8
Katherine
Tristan walks up the front stairs with me, arm releasing my shoulders and hand grasping mine. Bringing it to his lips, he kisses it before stepping back onto the front lawn. I open the unlocked door, not taking my eyes off his.
“Thanks for… the fun ride,” I say lamely, unable to come up with something more creative. “Fun” was an understatement…
He smirks, shoving his hands into the pockets o f his jeans. “Anytime, Katie . I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you want a ride to school?” he asks, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Stomach teeming with butterflies, I have to physically force myself to not jump up and down. Crossing my ankles, I lean against the doorframe. “Sure,” is all I can say without squealing like a five year old.
Tristan nods, winking a blue eye at me. “Pick you up at quarter after seven , ok?” I nod, letting my smile widen. “Well, until then, sweet dreams, Katherine,” he says, and then he turns on his heel and walks off towards the road. I didn’t realize he hadn’t brought a car here.
Spinning around in the doorway, I walk inside and shut the door just as the last ray of sun disappears from the sky, following Tristan down the road. I place a hand over my mouth, feeling my quickened breaths beat against my palm.
I’m emotionally exhausted, but the idea of closing my eyes seems crazy. There is too much to process that I haven’t even begun to think ab out. The fact that everything i s falling into place so perfect ly doesn’t seem real. My life i sn’t like this; fairytales
“All set,” I say, making her jump. Laughing, I apologize.
“I’d invite you to stay for dinner, but I’m not positive my aunt wouldn’t hit on you ,” she says, eyes widening slightly when she finished talking, cheeks reddening an adorable shade of rose.
Catching her eye, I raise my eyebrows and smirk. “You think I’m attractive?” I tease, lightly bumping my shoulder against hers. She watches her feet as we walk, but I can see her cheeks flush even more.
Suddenly, she looks up at me, the setting sun leaving a glint of light in her big green eyes. “How do you know my aunt? I know it’s a small town, but you seemed awfully… comfortable with her horse today. Unless you’re just a horse whisperer,” she jokes, but the curiosity is practically dripping from her words.
I groan internally, not wanting to further elaborate on my story at the moment. “Why don’t we save the questions for another day, and just enjoy the walk,” I say, releasing her hand and slyly putting my arm around her tiny shoulders. I feel her relax, which mak e s me relax.
“Promise?” she says, looking up at me through thick, dark eyelashes. Every time she blinks, my heart flutters a little faster; she bats her eyes instead of blinks. I try to think about manly things, like football and cars, but I’m too content to pretend to be something I’m not. I just let the flutters fill me and revel in her presence.
“I promise,” I chuckle, feeling her arm wrap around my waist. I feel something seep into me; something I’ve never felt before. It’s a warmth, a sugary sweetness that makes my mouth water. “What’s up with this?” I think to myself, and just as I think the words, I know the answer.
It’s happiness; Katherine’s happiness.
Chapter 8
Katherine
Tristan walks up the front stairs with me, arm releasing my shoulders and hand grasping mine. Bringing it to his lips, he kisses it before stepping back onto the front lawn. I open the unlocked door, not taking my eyes off his.
“Thanks for… the fun ride,” I say lamely, unable to come up with something more creative. “Fun” was an understatement…
He smirks, shoving his hands into the pockets o f his jeans. “Anytime, Katie . I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you want a ride to school?” he asks, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Stomach teeming with butterflies, I have to physically force myself to not jump up and down. Crossing my ankles, I lean against the doorframe. “Sure,” is all I can say without squealing like a five year old.
Tristan nods, winking a blue eye at me. “Pick you up at quarter after seven , ok?” I nod, letting my smile widen. “Well, until then, sweet dreams, Katherine,” he says, and then he turns on his heel and walks off towards the road. I didn’t realize he hadn’t brought a car here.
Spinning around in the doorway, I walk inside and shut the door just as the last ray of sun disappears from the sky, following Tristan down the road. I place a hand over my mouth, feeling my quickened breaths beat against my palm.
I’m emotionally exhausted, but the idea of closing my eyes seems crazy. There is too much to process that I haven’t even begun to think ab out. The fact that everything i s falling into place so perfect ly doesn’t seem real. My life i sn’t like this; fairytales
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