Free Unraveling by Micalea Smeltzer Page A

to be a far greater mystery than myself,” his brown eyes shimmered with suppressed laughter.
    I rolled my eyes. “We can just agree to disagree , then.” I folded my legs under me and tucked my hair behind my ears. “I know there’s more to your story than you let on.”
    Jared sighed. “Yeah, you would notice that.”
    “Why would I notice that, when other people wouldn’t?” I questioned.
    Jared sighed. “Kindred souls.”
    “What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
    Jared went back to rummaging through the cooler. “When people go through horrible, unspeakable things, it changes them, Katy.” He closed the cooler and turned to me. There was a haunted look in his eyes. “You can always recognize that pain in someone else.”
    I looked down, away from his eyes that saw too much.
    “It gets better, Katy,” he whispered. “I know, that right now, it doesn’t seem like that, but whatever happened to you… one day it won’t hurt as much.”
    “I doubt that,” I whispered.
    “Well, I know, because I’ve been in your shoes. I know what it feels like, to think that the pain will consume you. But one day, you just have to let go,” Jared, said. “Now, enough heavy talk. Turkey or ham?” he held two saran wrapped sandwiches in the air. “I wasn’t sure which you’d like so I made you both.”
    “Ham,” I said, reaching for the offered sandwich.
    Jared grinned. “Somehow, I thought you might pick that one. Want some chips?”
    “Depends on what you have?”
    He held up a bag of Doritos and Sun Chips.
    I grabbed the Sun Chips.
    “So, are you going to tell me why we’re here?” I asked as I unwrapped my sandwich.
    “They play old movies in the park, every Friday night, all summer long. This is the last night until next summer,” he motioned to a large screen. I saw a man fiddling with a projector.
    “Are you trying to woo me?” I asked, with a raised brow. “Romantic old movie in the park screams seduction.”
    Jared threw his head back and laughed. The sound of it filled my body with warmth.
    “Trust me, kittycat, if I was trying to woo you, I’d have a much better scheme up my sleeve. Why do you ask, is this working?” he leaned back on his elbow, stretching his legs out, and looking up at me with those perfect brown eyes framed by lashes I’d die for.
    I blushed.
    “It is working,” he chuckled.
    “I hate you,” I snapped.
    “No, on the contrary, I think you’re falling for me. It’s okay to take the leap, Katy. I’ll be here to catch you,” he said, in all seriousness.
    Oh boy, I was in over my head when it came to Jared.
    “No thanks, I’m afraid of heights.”
    He laughed; the sound was warm and rich like honey. He shook his head and grabbed a Dorito.
    Oh my, had I rendered Jared speechless? Score for me. Normally, Jared was the one leaving me flustered.
      The lights in the park dimmed at that moment and the projector flickered to life, filling the screen with a black and white image.
    “I brought popcorn if you want some,” Jared leaned towards me and whispered. “Do you want any?” he asked, when I didn’t say anything.
    “Sure,” I said, just so he’d move away. He was far too close and it was making me feel frazzled.
    “Here you go,” he said, handing me a Ziploc bag full of buttery popcorn. Our fingers barely grazed but it was enough to send a shiver down my spine.
    “Thanks,” I said.
    “You’re cold,” he commented, having noticed my shiver.
    There was no way I could tell him that, no, I wasn’t cold, it was just the affect he had on me, so instead I nodded in agreement.
    “I have a sweatshirt in my car. I’ll be right back,” he was gone before I could protest.
    I wasn’t really comfortable sitting here by myself with a bunch of strangers, so close to the woods where someone could easily drag me off.
    I took a deep breath and told myself that everything would be okay.
    In no time, Jared was back and kneeling down beside me.
    “Here,” he handed