Free Every Little Secret (Second Chances #2) by Kate Ashton Page B

you?” he asks.
    “Whatever.”  
    We exit the building and head toward the coffee shop, our strides like we’re in a race. The first drops of rain splatter my cheeks and I notice for the first time the heavy black clouds rolling across the sky. I shiver and wish I’d thrown on a sweater.  
    Silence sits between us, heavy, just like the clouds casting their dark shadows, covering the campus. Noah rushes to open the door for me. I nod my thanks, order coffee and head to my table. He orders and a minute later follows uninvited. He stirs a creamer into his coffee, then chews on the straw. I risk taking a glance and notice that the lightness about him when I first saw him has faded, his eyes a darker shade than usual.
    “Is something wrong?” he asks.
    “No.” I want to scream and rant and rave. Just my life! Just my fucked-up relationships and my screwed-up relationship with my dad. And the one person I want in my life, the one boy I feel safe with, I’m freezing out because he didn’t talk to me for a couple days. Good one, Carly .  
    I stare out the window, a light splatter of rain hits the glass. The sky continues to darken, the dark gray underside ominous. Why didn’t I grab my umbrella?
    Noah runs his fingers over the rim of his to-go cup in a cute, nervous sort of way. My heart thaws just a little. “Want to go for a short walk before classes?”
    I study his hopeful, honest expression, like a little boy asking for ice cream. In the time we’ve spent together, he knows me better than Chad. I want to touch my fingers to his cheek, his lips, gently play a melody across his skin and see what happens. I want to feel him next to me. I want to talk and laugh with him, but all I can do is sit here, frozen, plastic, unable to respond, too scared to say what I want. My eyes burn.  
    The chair falls back when I shoot up from the table. I don’t have time to pick it up but grab my bag and practically race to the exit. The air has dropped in temperature. I keep walking, letting the sprinkling of rain hide my tears. It’s better I hurt him now and walk away, let him think I’m a bitch. That’ll get him running in the opposite direction.  
    But then he’s right there, next to me. “So, how about that walk?”  
    Exasperated, I swing my book bag that has fallen off my shoulder back in place. “Fine. Do you promise to leave me alone, then?”
    “Definitely. As long as you at least talk with me, just a normal conversation. I promise I won’t ask any deep and philosophical questions.”  
    Somehow I don’t quite believe him, but I go with it. He’s given me an excuse to accept his offer, one that’s comfortable for me. I appreciate that and my heart melts a little bit more. As we walk along, he casually slips his hand into mine. It’s a nice, comfortable grasp as he takes the lead.  
    “Where are we going on this nice, short walk?” I emphasize the nice and short as the breeze shakes droplets of water from the trees above us. I squeal and dart forward, dragging him with me.
    He laughs at my girlish behavior. “Don’t know. Just walking. We could end up anywhere.”  
    He leads me past the main academic buildings and the library, heading toward the athletic fields. I believe it when he says he’s just walking but it seems like he has a radar for the soccer fields, a place where he’s comfortable. I glance at the swollen cloud right above us. A stronger wind, warm with the promise of a downpour, ruffles my scarf.
    “Um, maybe we should head back? Incoming rain?”  
    “Nah, we’ll make it. This is the best place to walk in the morning.” He grows thoughtful as we reach the edge of the fields. “Seeing the stretch of grass, empty and quiet.” He breathes deep, a sad sort of longing falling on him. “The smell of fall is in the air. It reminds me of being a kid when a big field was just an invitation to run and run and run.”  
    I huff. “Smells like rain to me.”  
    He slides my book bag off