Page 33 of Open Water
I held his face. Both hands. Thumbs against his cheekbones.
"You could never ruin my life." I looked at him through the tears and the blood and the bruise darkening on his jaw. "You're everything."
I kissed him. Gentle. Tasting blood and salt.
Behind us, Noah cleared his throat. I totally forgot that Noah was still in the room because I was so focused on Alex. That was the first time we showed affection in front of someone else. The first time someone saw me kiss a guy. I'm glad it was Noah, and he didn't care because he was my best friend.
And it was almost like relief having him there to witness it, and know that it was fine that I was kissing a guy.
"I'll give you guys the room," he said. Already grabbing his jacket and his phone. "I'll be at Priya's"
"Thanks, Noah."
He paused at the door. Looked at Alex's knuckles. Looked at me.
"You guys are going to be okay."
I gave him a small nod and he closed the door behind him.
The lock clicked.
Alex sat on the edge of my bed hunched forward and staring at his hands.
I sat next to him. Close enough that our shoulders touched.
"Tell me," I said.
"I hit him, Liam." His voice was flat. Hollow. "I didn't just hit him once. I couldn't stop."
"Okay."
"He was on the ground and I just kept—" He held up his hands. Looked at them like they belonged to someone else. "Everything came out. All of it. Everything I've been holding in. And I just kept hitting him."
I took his hands and turned them over. His knuckles were a real mess.
"He told my dad," Alex said. "About us. Told him I kissed you." He laughed, not a funny laugh but like he couldn't believe it actually happened.
That was not good. Both schools knowing was one thing but his father knowing was a whole other can of worms. And it wasn't good. It wasn't going to be good for Alex… or maybe even me. I didn't know how powerful the Harringtons really were. His power could stretch beyond Kingswell.
"Jesus."
"Then he called us sick."
The word landed between us.
"He said what we have is sick. And I—" Alex looked at me. "The party. Our first kiss. Racing the Charles with you. Those are the best moments of my life."
I put my hand on the back of his neck. Held it there.
"The best moments of your life?"
His blue eyes looked up to me, wide and true. "Yes. The best."
Electric shot through my chest.
That's the real Alex.
"I don't care what Marcus thinks. They are the best moments of my life too." I said.
