I’d been so distracted that I hadn’t even thought about going back for it.
Groaning, I resigned myself to catching the early morning bus to meet Kamran because there was no way I wasn’t showing to hear what he had to say.
I found myself standing at the entryway to Rocky Point Park not long later with my stomach in knots.
When Kamran pulled into the parking lot in his car, my entire body buzzed with excitement at getting to see him at the same time that I thought I was going to puke.
He got out of his car, wearing sweats and a hoodie, a hat over his head as the weather had already started to cool and the morning was brisk. I had a jacket on but my ears were a bit cold already.
He glanced over at me, clearly playing it cool and giving me only a nod until he reached me.
“Hey,” he muttered, looking anywhere but at my face. “Ready to go?”
“Uh. Sure,” I said, startled.
He gave me a quick, guarded smile and started running.
Surprised, I fell into step beside him, stomach in knots. No hug or kiss or anything. So much for wanting to come out with me…
Together, we ran along the path that went along the water as the sun started to rise and carried on into the trees. At my side, Kamran's feet beat a steady rhythm with mine, his breath a puff of air that mingled with my own.
I kept glancing over at him, but he never caught my eye until I looked over one time too many and my foot caught an uneven spot on the pavement and I tripped.
I tried to stop myself from hitting the ground, but it was too late and I nearly face planted, just managing to avoid it by hitting the path with my shoulder.
“Fuck!”
I struggled to my feet and Kamran's hands were suddenly on me, trying to help me, but frustration won, and I shrugged them away angrily.
“What the fuck Kamran, just tell me what the hell is going on! You're killing me here.”
He didn't stand back, exactly, but he took his hands off of me and stared for a minute before shuffling his feet like a kid that had done something wrong.
“I just wanted to wait till we got to the lookout,” he said.
“Just tell me now,” I demanded.
And dammit, now my nerves were going haywire, combining with the pain shooting through my arm.
“Are we done?” I asked when he didn't say anything. “Do you regret it, or something?”
Kamran's eyes widened dramatically and this time when he reached for me and I tried to push him away, he didn't let me.
“Ryan,” he whispered, pulling me against him. “I don't think I can even look at you again without wanting to touch you.”
I shivered.
“And you don't want that?”
“No, you dummy. I want it. I told you that yesterday. I want it more than anything. I barely even got a taste yet. It's only going to get worse from here.”
Despite myself, I leaned against him, burrowing into his warmth.
“Then why didn't you call?” I asked. “I was waiting and you've barely said anything.”
He didn't answer for a minute and when I pulled back enough to look at him, he was biting his lip, looking anxious.
“I didn't tell Melissa,” he finally confessed.
