“Yeah.” He sniffs then proceeds to clear his throat as though he’s clearing the sadness away as quickly as possible.
Losing someone is always difficult, and the sad thing about it is that you never know when it’s going to happen. Time can move at a glacial pace most of your life… or steal the very air from your lungs without a second thought or warning.
I don’t know why I do it, but I reach out and lightly wrap my hand around his wrist, stopping him from walking. Ricky’s gaze travels from my face, and all the way down to where we are joined, staring at our connection for a beat. “I’m… sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“You didn’t,” he whispers, looking into my eyes with terrible sorrow within his own. Almost as though if he speaks any louder he’ll crack. “I promise.” He tries to offer me a smile, but it comes out weak at best. One that I know he’s only doing to try and lighten the mood.
I don’t know what possesses me to do so, but I feel like this is the type of moment when someone would give comfort to another. Something which I hardly do. So, instead of removing my hold on him entirely, I slowly slide my hand lower and thread my fingers through his.
Heather, you just met the guy who admitted he’s been watching you.
ARE YOU WELL!?
Probably not, but who cares.
Surprisingly, Ricky doesn’t pull his hand away or look at me as though I’m clinically insane. No, he simply readjusts his own fingers comfortably and engulfs my entire hand in his. And if Ididn’t know any better, I’d say the corner of his mouth ticks as he does.
Even though I’m still whining internally about the gradient of this fucking hill, I don’t voice it because I’m still placing my bets on whether the person I have aptly coined a “nice guy” is going to murder me when we crest the hill, or, if he actually has a body for me to look at. How the hell am I going to explain something like this to my mom when I get home.
“Honey, where have you been? It’s late.”
“Oh, sorry, Mum, I met this really hot guy in the graveyard where I was… oh I don’t know, burying your HUSBAND!”
It would be a whole fiasco I’m just not ready for.
When both of us finally reach the top of the hill—our hands still clasped together—my eyes land on the freshly-dug grave in the centre of the forest floor. Trees circle the surrounding area beneath us and other than the hole in the ground, the dirt is perfect and seemingly untouched—it seems—by anyone. Next to the perfectly-dug chasm sits a shiny black body bag filled with what looks to be the outline of a body. The item itself waiting for me like a present on my birthday.
We carefully stroll down the slanted hilltop, Ricky taking hold of my elbow to keep me steady, and again I have to stop the smile on my face becausewhat… in the actual fuck is going on with me.
He’s a man, so why would something as simple as him helping me make me swoon so much?
I’ve never felt this much elation in the presence of another person before, and if I did it was entirely fake. No butterflies, excitement, or even enjoying the sound of someone’s voice, but here I am, enjoying a simple touch from him.
Who am I? For real…
I continue to argue with myself about my instant feelings for this random guy I’ve had a meet cute in the boneyard with, butall that dissipates the moment he hops down the brick wall at the edge of the hill and turns to face me, holding his hands and arms outstretched towards me.
“Come on, I won’t drop you.”
I rest my hands on my waist and pop out my hip, raising a perfectly-shaped brow at him. “Really?” My tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Mhmm.” He nods.
“You just want to touch me.” I narrow my eyes and roll my tongue over my top set of teeth questioningly.
“This coming from the girl who held my hand without asking,” he retorts.
“Oh, you loved it.” I snort playfully. “I bet that’s the first time a girl has touched you since you peaked in high school.”
All he does is shrug in response, looking at me with a humorous expression. “Come on.” He opens and closes his fingers to his palms in acome heremovement, but instead of moving, I wait. We stare at each other for what feels like forever, until he finally speaks once more. “Fine,” he huffs. “I loved it. There, you happy?”
“Yep,” I say, popping the P.
“Good.” He slowly shakes his head at my honesty and takes a single step closer. “Let’s go,” he urges, and I lift my hands as he gently takes hold of my waist and takes the entire weight of me in his grasp. Lifting me gently before lowering me to my feet in front of him. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
I look up at him, his electric smile still in place, and it sends a shiver to the very marrow of my bones.
How? And why? Is he having this effect on me?
