My Soul to Keep - By Sean Hayden Page 0,52

elbowed him in the ribs.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. It's my fault. Connor finally asked me out and I kissed him.”

I found my parents reaction a little irritating. If I had said it, they would have duct-taped me to the radiator in my room. When Jessie said it, my mom started squealing and jumping up and down like a little girl. She ran for the couch, bowled me out of the way, and grabbed Jessie's hands in hers. She pulled Jessie off the couch and hugged her like she was part of the family. I looked over at Dad and he gave me a thumbs up.

"Hey, Dad. Would you call Mr. James and let him know you and Mom are home to supervise the evil boy and his innocent daughter? He was worried about leaving the two of us unattended. I told him we had child safety latches on all the cabinets and outlets, but he didn't believe me."

"Connor Sullivan! You show Mr. James some respect. He could be your father-in-law one day. Twenty years from now."

"I was kidding, Mom. I didn't say that."

"Sure," Dad said and gave me another thumbs up.

"He didn't Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. He was very polite. He even used the word sir."

Mom beamed. Dad looked a little disappointed. I rolled my eyes. "You want to go out on the back porch, Jess?" I wanted to ask if she wanted to hang out in my room, but I didn't want the rents to have a seizure.

"Sure," she said and held out her hand. I quickly grabbed it and led her out the back door to the wrought iron patio set. I helped her in one of the ancient chairs and pulled mine over next to her. As I sat, I reached down and held her hand. Hers tightened over mine. I sat there and thought back to the happiest times of my life. This one topped those by several orders of magnitude.

"It's cold," Jessie said.

"You want another jacket?"

"I'd rather sit in your lap and have you put your arms around me. Would your parents flip?"

"Probably, but I don't care. Not even a little."

She quickly stood up and felt around her. She grabbed the arms of my chair and used them to guide herself into my lap nestling her face in my neck. That order of magnitude thing I had been thinking about earlier rose a few more notches. Now I knew what heaven must be like.

That thought made me shift in my seat a little. Jessie felt me beneath her. "What's wrong? Are your parents freaking?"

"No," I said and looked back at the door to make sure they weren't spying on us. I thought I caught Dad's smile, but I couldn't be sure. "I just remembered, we need to work on our costumes."

"Oh, I have mine already. Don't tell anybody, but I've been an angel every Halloween for as long as I can remember. My dad sort of insists."

"Sweet. It fits you perfectly."

"Dork," she said but giggled.

"Your dork," I said and smiled. I liked the sound of that. Jessie must have too because she snuggled in closer and let out a little sigh.

We sat and I watched the stars in silence for a little while. Then Jessie's lips found my neck and she started planting gentle kisses. I started stroking her hand. She brought it up to my face and started feeling. I knew blind people use their hands to feel people's faces to see what they looked like. Jessie started at my eyebrows and forehead and started caressing everywhere.

"You're handsome," she whispered.

"You are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." She smiled but seemed sad at the same time. "What's the matter, Jess?"

"I accepted being blind a long time ago, but I really, really want to see you right now."

"Trust me, you'd be disappointed."

"Connor, I hate to break it to you, but you could have glowing red eyes and horns and I'd still think you were gorgeous."

I nearly dropped her off my lap. "Huh?"

"Relax! Sheesh, I was kidding. Sort of. You would make a handsome devil though."

I realized she was teasing and relaxed. She snuggled back in closer than before and I forgot all about it. I wish she could see me, too. She wasn't dating the handsomest kid in school and she deserved to know that. I mean, I was good looking in my true form, but my human form still left a little to be desired. I wished there was some way she