Kind of Like Life
Page 23
“What are you doing here? I… I kind of thought you were avoiding me,” she admitted with a blush.
“I was, in a way,” he said, taking her hand with a nervous laugh as he led her over to an unoccupied bench. “Remember when I said I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish my equivalency in time to apply to a school this semester?”
Renee nodded. Because he had missed more than two years of school, Blake had been taking courses at a learning center that would allow him to receive a diploma and apply for college. When she had last spoken to him, Blake was not sure he would finish the work in time to apply for the fall semester.
“Well, when you told me you had been accepted here, I looked into the possibility as well,” he continued shyly. “As it turns out, the program I wanted to get into had a few open spaces and I decided there was no way I was going to let the opportunity pass me by. I finished my equivalency and passed the entrance exam last week. I was going to tell you, but then I decided it would be more fun to surprise you. I hope you can forgive me.”
“I suppose I can,” she said with a shy, hopeful smile. “What program are you in?”
“Psychology and social work,” he replied. Though he smiled as he spoke, Blake’s eyes darkened. “I want to work with abuse victims and make sure the system doesn’t fail them in the same way it failed me.”
“Wow, that’s wonderful,” Renee said, slightly choked by the pride she felt swelling up in her. “I can’t imagine that would be an easy path under the best of circumstances. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you,” Blake said with a blush. “I don’t expect it to be easy, but I promised my therapist I’d keep in touch. He’s been great. Actually, he was partially my inspiration for wanting to do this. And just so you know, I’m proud of you too,” he added, lifting his hand to put it gently on her cheek. “You have no idea how happy I was when you sent me that picture. I miss seeing you, the real you.”
“Yeah, well…” Renee blushed to a deep red. “I spent an hour putting on makeup this morning and there’s a hat and scarf stashed in my bag just in case I lose my nerve. I’m trying to be brave, but it’s not easy. People can be cruel and judgmental without realizing what they’re doing. Of course, you know that better than I do,” she added, noting the long sleeved hoodie that Blake wore, despite the mild weather.
“I do,” he said solemnly, “and I’d be a hypocrite if I were to tell you otherwise.” His expression became slightly mysterious. “Especially once you see this.”
As he spoke, Blake unzipped the hoodie and shrugged it off, rolling up the sleeves on his t-shirt for the full effect. Tattooed on each arm, from shoulder to wrist, was a highly detailed phoenix.
“Oh my…” Renee gasped, getting up to walk slowly around Blake so that she could see the art from every angle. The likeness to their birds was uncanny. On his right arm, a brilliant orange and red bird with blue-gray eyes raised its wings skyward. On his left, a maroon and gold bird with gold-flecked green eyes stood proud, her flaming tail feathers curling around his wrist and forearm. Even more amazing was the fact that every scar on Blake’s arms had been incorporated into the patterned swirl of the birds’ feathers, rendering them invisible to anyone who did not have previous knowledge of their existence.
“Blake, they’re beautiful,” she whispered.
“Thanks,” he said with a humble blush. “The artist who did them was amazing, and really expensive, but worth every penny. Grandma Jean wasn’t thrilled with the idea when I told her what I had planned, but after seeing them, even she admits it’s an improvement. I, uh,” he looked down suddenly and laughed a small, embarrassed chuckle. “I was thinking about maybe a forest scene or an alien landscape to cover the worst of my back and chest, but that would have cost a lot more than I had and besides, I didn’t want to look like a sideshow attraction.”
“Are you kidding?” Renee said with an incredulous snort. “If you did that, girls would be all over you.”
“Well it’s a good thing I didn’t then,” he said lightly, but the gaze that held hers was intense. “I’ve kind of been saving myself, you know.”
“Saving yourself?” Renee gave him a puzzled look.
“Well,” Blake drawled with a mischievous grin. “Technically, I’ve only ever kissed a beautiful woman in my dreams. I’d like to remedy that. That is, if I’m not too late and she’s already kissed half the boys in the state by now.”
The hopeful look he shot her was too over the top and Renee collapsed against him, chuckling softly before turning her eyes up to his. “No, she certainly hasn’t kissed any boys,” she informed him, inching her face closer to his. “But she might have spent every night thinking about kissing this wonderful man who once kissed her in a dream.”
“I think I’ve been having similar dreams,” he murmured, bringing his lips down onto hers.
Though the park bench in front of the student union wasn’t nearly as romantic a setting as the formal ballroom had been for a first kiss, neither Blake nor Renee cared, paying no attention to their surroundings. All that mattered was the pure, almost magical feeling that passed between them. After a moment, Blake pulled away, taking Renee’s hand in his as he smiled at her.
“So, am I as good a kisser as this dream boy?” he asked lightly.
“Better,” Renee whispered, slightly out of breath. “But I might need another, just to be sure.”
Blake leaned in and kissed her again.
“There’s um, something else I’ve wanted to tell you,” he said shyly as he drew away.
“Oh?” Renee’s stomach fluttered nervously as Blake’s expression softened, but his eyes blazed with intensity.
I love you.
A knowing smile played across his lips as Renee’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
“Too soon?” he asked hesitantly after Renee hadn’t replied for a moment.
Still unable to speak, she threw her arms around him and kissed him again.
What? No! I love you too!
She pulled away and looked up at him in awe. “How?”
Blake shrugged. “I have no idea, but somehow, when I saw you, I just knew.”
Renee’s eyes narrowed mischievously.
We’ve got super powers!
“We do,” he said with a chuckle. “Unfortunately, we also have classes to get to.”
As he stood, he pulled Renee up with him and circled her waist with his arms.
We might want to keep this information to ourselves.
Renee shivered slightly, remembering the too keen interest the agents took in her description of the connection that she and Blake had shared.
I can certainly agree to that.
As they walked, hand in hand across the campus, Renee let out a contented sigh. Despite all that had happened, and all of the challenges that lay ahead, she was happy. Sure, there were uncertainties. Unlike Blake, Renee had yet to pick a major. Commercial airline pilot was, unfortunately, no longer a possibility, but she was grateful to have a future in which she would be able to explore the vast options that were still available to her. Yet despite the uncertainties, there was one thing that Renee knew for sure. Never again would she complain that her life was ordinary.
And that suited her just fine.
Acknowledgments
To begin, I would like to thank my beautiful cousin, Nicole, for agreeing to be the public face of this novel. Without her, the cover of this book would not be half as lovely as it is now.
I would also like to thank my aunts, Kathy and Leslie, for offering their time to proofread the final draft. The extra sets of eyes were very much appreciated.
And finally, I need to give a huge thank you to both my husband, Jason, and my cousin, Jacqui, who have been my solid creative and editorial consultants ever since I finalized the first (terrible) draft of my first novel. Their keen eyes and critical input continues to be invaluable to me.
And of course, as always, thank you for reading!
> If you would like information on new releases, upcoming projects, or if you just want to say hello and let me know what you thought of the book you can email me at mcmullenwrites@gmail.com or better yet, like me on Facebook, where I try to be captivating and engaging, but mostly I just tell terrible jokes. http://www.facebook.com/mcmullenwrites