Free If I Say Yes by Brandy Jellum

single wooden bench sits close to the pond with flowers blooming on both sides. It’s set back far enough in the corner of the park so that others walking on the other side of the pond can’t see us. Reid motions to the bench and waits for me. “Sit down, help me feed the geese, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
    I glance around, my nerves on the edge. Sitting here, alone with him, I can’t deny the urge to reach out and touch him. To press my lips against his. But damn it, I can fight off the urge. I have to. I can’t deal with another rejection from him when my body craves his. I nod once, pass him, and sit down on the bench. Reid takes a seat next to me, and our arms brush against one another. This is the closest we have been since Monday. My body is humming with pure energy and the desire to take him, right here and right now.
    I fight the feelings down as best as I can, tucking them away just barely beneath the surface. I stare straight ahead, listening to Reid breathing in and out. Out the corner of my eye, I see him open the bag of bread and pull out a slice. He hands the piece over to me, and our fingers touch and linger against one another’s. A bolt of electricity swamps my body, and I hear Reid take a sharp breath and then tense beside me. I pull my hand away, taking the piece of bread with me. I rip off a portion and throw it in the water, where geese appear out of nowhere and swarm it. Reid and I say nothing as we go through the loaf of bread, each of us ripping off pieces and tossing them to the geese. I squeal when a goose tries to nab a piece of bread that fell close to my foot and mistakes one of my toes for food.
    I pull up my feet out of reach of the goose, lose my balance, and fall onto Reid. He laughs gently and brushes my hair out of my face. He traces his fingers over my lips and gently presses his mouth against mine. My breathing hitches momentarily before returning the kiss. The kiss is soft and sweet and over all too soon. “Where were you?” I whisper.
    “I had to tend to something,” he replies rather sharply. “Something important.”
    “So you’ve said.”
    Reid adjusts in his seat, pulling my legs into his lap, and resting his hands on top of them. I turn away, not wanting to meet his gaze. “Liza…” I cross my arms and make a ‘hmmph’ noise, like a little child. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to come off rude.” I glance at him out the corner of my eyes and catch a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. The sight almost breaks me, and I stare at him now. “I-I-I just have a really hard time talking about it. In fact, I’ve never shared it with anyone.” With that, I give in and place a hand on top of his. “I was with my mother.”
    “Your mother?”
    “Yes…” His voice cracks. “My mother. She’s sick… she has cancer. The doctor says it doesn’t look hopeful.”
    I feel like a bitch, a total bitch. Here I am being angry at him this entire time, being rude and a complete snob, when his mother is sick and dying. What the hell is wrong with me? I know it isn’t my fault. I didn’t know, but I can’t help to feel guilty. “I’m sorry,” I say softly. “Is she going to be okay?”
    A tear forms in the corner of Reid’s eye, I want to reach out and wipe it away, but I can’t seem to move. “She says she is, but the doctors say otherwise. That’s where I have been all week. I was with her… in the hospital.”
    “I’m sorry,” I whisper. It’s the only thing I can manage to say.
    “Don’t be.” He shakes his head. “She wouldn’t want that.” Reid stands up and offers his hand to me. I respectfully decline by shaking my head and stand up next to him. He lets out a deep sigh and starts to walk back under the vines. I follow him, taking a few quick steps until we are walking side by side. We walk silently through the narrow pathway. I replay all my actions lately in my head. How could I be so rude? Well, it’s not like he’s exactly