Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(86)

I hoped he didn’t think I was whining. I knew his schedule was hard. I knew he was trying to see me. Wiping a stubborn tear from my eye, I sniffed again for a different reason. I’d so wanted to introduce him to my family, to spend the holiday with him, to just…see him.

His reply came while I was wiping my nose with the back of my jacket sleeve. ‘Yeah, I know. I tried…I’m really sorry.’ While I tried to think of 239



something that was encouraging and sympathetic, not snippy and childish, my phone buzzed and chirped again. ‘Are you okay? You’re not crying, are you?’

Sniffling and wiping my nose again, I frowned that he thought I’d turn into a blubbering mess so rapidly. True, my stomach was twisted and tears were freely rolling down my cheeks now, but I didn’t necessarily want him to know that. ‘No…I’m fine. I know you tried. I’m okay…really.’

Thinking that I had no idea when I’d actually see him again, a stubborn sob escaped me. My phone sounded at me right after. I had to swipe my fingers under my eyes to read his message.

‘You’re lying.’

Sniffling as more tears embarrassingly ran down my face, I shook my head at the screen. “Am not…” My voice was a little petulant as I replied to a tiny piece of machinery that couldn’t hear or understand me.

Just as my thumbs came down to type him a message reiterating just how completely fine I was, even though I wasn’t, my phone chirped at me. Blinking, I opened his message.

‘Are too.’

I stared at my phone like it had just grown lips and talked to me. I did say that smartass comment out loud, didn’t I? Did I subconsciously text it too? I was a little worn out from travel, and the holidays…and my parents. Flipping through my outbox, I double-checked all of my messages.

“How did you know that, Kellan?” I muttered as I looked for a message I didn’t remember sending.

My phone buzzed while I was browsing yesterday’s texts. Shaking my head, I shifted back to the inbox. ‘I know that because I know everything.’

My eyes widened even more. Another message had come in while I was reading that one and I immediately opened it next. ‘I also lied…turn around.’

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My heart in my throat, I did as my phone commanded me. It was like emerging from a dream, or maybe, falling into one. Stepping away from the shadow of an oak tree at the base of the hill, just a few feet away from me actually, Kellan stepped down into the moonlight. His hand tucked his phone into his leather jacket as he did. I stood from the bench as he came into view.

My God, but he was beautiful.

My mouth dropped open as fresh tears sprang into my eyes; happy tears this time. Snow lightly gathering in his thick, messy hair, his lips curled into a devilish smile as he stared at me.

“Kellan,” I breathed.

Then I was gone, rushing towards him before my head even registered the movement. Chuckling, his face breaking into a playful grin, he started walking towards me. Walking wasn’t good enough for me. I flew to him. I hadn’t had his arms around me in weeks. I hadn’t had more than his voice in my ear for weeks. I needed so much more now.

I leapt into his arms when I finally slipped and slid my way over to him. Kellan laughed as my arms cinched around his neck. The warmth of the reunion melted all of the iciness from my body. I’d never felt such complete peace. He lifted me a good foot, swinging me around in a circle. I was laughing when he set me down, my earlier despair gone.

Just as his lips started coming towards mine, I shoved his shoulder back. My despair may be gone, but that was not a nice joke. “You were kidding? You’re such a jerk.”

Chuckling, his eyes even more blue in the blue light filtering through the trees, he raised an eyebrow. “I thought I was a prick?” Shaking my head, I grabbed his cheeks, pulling his face towards mine.

We could argue the semantics of his *ness later. I needed more than just words right now. Kellan’s arms wrapped around my waist as our lips melded together. Cold and hot at the same time, our mouths softly felt the other’s. Our breath’s vapor between us, he muttered, “I’m sorry I’m late.”

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My hands drifted up to tighten in his hair, the long strands on the top damp with melted snow. “I’m just glad you’re here.” Our soft but intense kiss broke apart, and Kellan rested his head against mine. His eyes flicked over my face, studying me, maybe seeing how I’d changed in the past few weeks. “I’ve missed you…so much.” Grinning, I pressed my lips back to his. “I’ve missed you, too.” We kissed in the lightly falling snow, a few feet away from the frozen duck pond that students sometimes skated on if it iced over enough. We kissed until my fingers were so numb I could no longer feel the thick strands of his hair wrapped around them. That still didn’t stop me though. I needed his lips on mine. I needed his body pressed into mine. I really didn’t care if I froze solid, and became a living work of art here…as long as he was with me.

He pushed me back though, when I went for his mouth again. “We should go, you’re frozen.”

His eyes traveled down my body and I felt anything but cold. “I’m fine,” I stuttered, my body actually chillier than my mind believed it was.

He smirked, a cloud of moisture escaping his mouth. “Your teeth are chattering.”