The Resolution of Callie & Kayden(13)

He stands up with a proud expression after he finishes. ‘See, now all you have to do is go get him.’ He drops the branch and dusts snow from his gloves.

‘Swoon over the moon?’ I question and he gives me a what look. I retrieve my gloves from my pocket and slip my fingers inside them. ‘I have a better idea.’ I pick up the branch and brush my hands across the surface of the snow, erasing what he wrote and giggling when he starts to complain. Then I kneel down and write something that’s actually from me.

‘If I’m going to do this, then I should do it,’ I tell him as I trace the tip of the stick across the snow. When I’m done, I stand up and admire my handiwork.

Seth steps beside me and reads what I wrote. ‘Kayden, let me dazzle you at a Halloween concert. P.S. Seth made me do this because he put it on the list.’ He gives me a look. ‘That’s really what you want to write?’

I brush snow out of my hair that’s falling from the trees. ‘Yep, I think it’s perfect.’

He sighs, but he’s smiling, so I know he thinks I’m amusing. ‘Here, let me see your phone.’

I reach into my pocket and give it to him, not really thinking too much about it. ‘Why? Where’s yours?’

He’s chuckling under his breath as he types something. ‘In my pocket.’

‘Then why do you need mine.’

Laughing, he tosses me the phone. ‘Let me know how it goes and if you need a ride later.’ He saunters off toward the parking lot.

‘Seth, what did you do?’ I shout at him, but then shake my head at myself and go into my text messages to see for myself. ‘Hey, lover. Meet me outside your dorm building in ten. I have a naughty little surprise for you,’ I read it aloud, unsure whether to be angry or amused. I decide to go for the latter, since Seth didn’t mean anything by it and Kayden shouldn’t think much of it. At least, I hope he doesn’t … or maybe I do.

Kayden: Hmm … I’m intrigued. I’ll be down in a sec.

Sighing, I put my phone away and wait for him to come out to me. I wonder if he thinks I’m going to bombard him with another question like I did the other day. I am kind of making it a habit. Texting him to meet me out here in the middle of the yard that looks like a winter wonderland.

I should really find another way to do stuff like this.

A couple of minutes later, Kayden walks outside, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat. The wind blows through strands of his brown hair that hangs in his eyes and flips up at his ears. His shoulders are strong, his entire body lean and in shape, but covered in scars, put there by both himself and his father. Still, he’s absolutely gorgeous. I’ve always thought so, even when we were younger. Our parents actually knew each other – small town thing – and had parties a lot that we attended, but Kayden never really noticed me until I stepped in one time right after graduation when his father was in the middle of beating him. It was back when I was still cutting my own hair and wore clothes two sizes too big so I wouldn’t get noticed by anyone.

But that night, he noticed me, like I had always noticed him.

And I – neither of us … was the same again.

‘You know you can come up to my room?’ he teases as he strolls over to me. ‘There’s not a “no girls allowed” rule.’ He winks as he stops in front of me, all smiles. I can see in his eyes that he’s keeping something from me, though. Something that’s bothering him. It’s not even the same sadness I’ve been seeing for a few weeks. This is different. He’s carrying more weight around, like when we first were together and I didn’t know about his problems. ‘So what’s the naughty thing you wanted to show me?’ His gaze skims down my body and makes my skin feel like I’m on fire.

‘Yeah … sorry about that,’ I say with an exaggerated sigh. ‘Seth actually sent you that text.’

He chuckles under his breath. ‘I was kind of wondering.’ He looks around at the trees and the parking lot. ‘Where is he?’

‘Oh, he left,’ I tell him as his eyes land back on me. He waits for me to explain so I step back and let him read my little snowflake note.

At first, he appears puzzled, and then he starts to laugh. ‘You two are so weird.’

‘Yeah, I know …’ I trail off, wishing I wasn’t nervous. ‘The thing starts at eight. We can go there or meet up because I know you have practice and stuff.’

He looks back up at me and places his hands on my hips. ‘I’d love to go with you, but we’ll have to meet there if that’s okay? I can’t miss practice or coach will fucking flip out.’