Here Lies a Saint (Here Lies #2) - C.L. Matthews Page 0,81
stay with me,” Midas reassures.
With that, I’m jogging out the door and toward the bunker in the woods.
I’m so fucking dumb. Challenging my father like that.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lux
As I make my way there, a place Max used to take me when our fathers dealt with Emeralds’ business, I stumble a few times. There’s no snowfall here. Unlike Arcadia, where snow comes in heaps, there’s heat here.
When I find the shack, nostalgia hits me hard.
“Do you think we’ll always be friends?” Max asks me, his face curious, the little worried wrinkle in his brow making me want to smooth it out.
We sit on the grass, staring at the clouds. Sometimes, when we hang out, we look at them together and see crazy figured. Once, I saw what looked like a gremlin, and since then, I knew it was one of my favorite moments.
We’re teens, thirteen to be exact. Maxim is the first guy besides Ross who has made me feel butterflies in my stomach. I was taught really young by Mom and even by Ross and Justice that liking boys is wrong and that it can get me into trouble. I learned really soon how true that was when Justice got caught making out with Will Atkers.
His dad raged, and then he had to move away.
It’s been weird without him and Prudence.
“Are you ignoring me because you don’t think we’ll be friends?” Maxim badgers, and I turn to him. There’s this hope in his eyes, like he knows we have a connection.
One I’ll never broach.
“Yeah, Maxim, I do.”
When I reach the same area, I can’t help but settle on top of it, staring at the starry sky. There’s no smoke here like the township and school, when the fires are going. It’s beautiful and dark but not pitch black, and the stars shine brightly.
After a few minutes, I wonder if I should have hidden more.
Maxim always told me this place was safe. We would hang out here for hours, and no one could ever find us. Now, that I’m here again, I wonder how much of that was a figment of my childhood imagination rather than factual.
“Lux?” Just calls out. His voice isn’t too loud, but it carries. I don’t know how I know it’s him. I just do. While him and Pru are identical twins, their voices are completely different. Not just that but their tastes, facial expressions, and idealisms too.
“Here,” I respond, wanting him to find me. I wonder if I knew all those years ago that I’d have feelings for not one, or two, but several guys.
Ross is a hard spot for me. We’ve always had a connection that scares me. No matter who ruffles our feather or tries coming between us, it’s always been us.
We’re inseparable and strong.
That is, until I fucked Jordan, and Ross took that as a jab.
In a way, it is.
He’s wanted me for years, and I’ve wanted him too. We’ve double-teamed on many occasions but never fooled around as much as we’ve both wanted it. Ruining us was never in the cards for me. He means too much.
He doesn’t want to see that, though, which is a big issue. My intentions were to save us, but it seems to have separated us and created the biggest wedge known to man.
“There you are,” Just says, coming toward me.
Fuck, I missed him. It’s weird, since I hate him, but him being gone and Jordan and Colt... hell, everyone, it’s been hard.
Maybe it’s just human connection I’ve missed. That must be it.
“Hiding,” I admit, though it’s obvious.
“I bet. They’re looking for you all.”
“Where are Colt and Jordan?” The question leaves quickly, too quickly, showing my cards. I’m getting rusty on the don’t show or tell I’ve mastered.
He smiles. “I saw them in the hall. It seems Colt is panicking, and he’s talking to her, but I’m sure they’ll make themselves show soon, especially before they send the cavalry.”
“When are you going to tell her?”
He knows what I’m talking about without having to ask. It’s the blessing of knowing him for so many years. He’s not stupid.
“She’ll hate me and Pru, and he really loves her.”
I shake my head. “He can get in line. There are several others in love with her.”
“What, like you?” he teases, coming to lie next to me.
“Yeah,” I admit, staring back at the sky. Some clouds have come overhead, and I stare at them, thinking of the first time I ever wanted to kiss Justice Krane.