Free Lost To Me by Jamie Blair Page A

Oriann.
     
    “I know. They’re amazing, aren’t they? Tiny little people.” He turned his eyes to the turtles again. “Think you’ll have one someday?”
     
    I may have imagined it, but I thought he squeezed my hand, quickly, lightly, but I swore I felt it.
     
    “Probably more than one,” I said, shy and embarrassed. My hand started to sweat, but he didn’t drop it.
     
    It had only been a few days, and he was talking about babies? I was crazy for reading into his words. Guys weren’t like that. They weren’t that sensitive. But, the look in his eyes argued against me.
     
    “I’m going to have enough to have my own basketball team.” He laughed. “They can beat the crap out of Kyle’s kids on the court.”
     
    I laughed and hugged him. “Take me to the sharks.”
     
    “Right this way, Ladybug.” I smiled at my new nickname.
     
    I could’ve watched the sharks patrol their tank for the rest of the day. Their constant rotation around the edges of the glass put me in a trance. Everything about sharks screamed predator. From their rows of razor sharp teeth, to their darting, wicked eyes, you know what’s in their head. They didn’t try to hide it.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    KOLTON
     
     
     
    Stingrays were smooth and soft like Lauren’s skin. I dipped my hand in the water and waited for the pack to circle back around the tank. They flapped up the side, wanting to be touched. My fingers glided over the back of one of the largest.
     
    I watched as Lauren dipped her fingers a few inches into the water, hesitant and cautious. When a stingray went by, she twisted her lips and bit her cheek, lowering her hand further into the tank. Her face lit up at the thrill of contact with the silky skin, but she yanked her hand back to her chest just the same.
     
    I laughed, my hand still in the water. “You’re such a girl.”
     
    “Hey, I touched it, didn’t I?” She reached toward me and wiped her wet hand on my shirt.
     
    “Hey!” I grabbed her wrist.
     
    She tried to get her wrist from me, but I held tight. We play wrestled for a minute. I cheated and tickled her.
     
    “Stop!” she begged through her giggles.
     
    “Okay, I’ll stop, but you have to see a movie with me now.” My fingers linked with hers.
     
    “You have this all planned out, don’t you?” Her face was flushed from all the laughing.
     
    I winked and guided her toward the theatre.
     
    We stood in line at the IMAX with about ten thousand other people. The show was some underwater wildlife thing that I really wasn’t too interested in seeing, but I’d watch ants move dirt if it meant spending time with Lauren.
     
    We faced each other in line. Her arms were covered with goose bumps, so I ran my hands up and down them. Honestly, I was having a great time, but would’ve rather been spending some alone time, close to her.
     
    Inside the theatre, most of the seats were already taken, but we claimed a spot at the end of the last row.
     
    “I’ll be right back,” I said. “M&Ms or Skittles?”
     
    “M&Ms please, with peanuts.”
     
    I made my way down the steps in the aisle and out of the theater. The line at the concession stand was a mile long. I folded my arms and stood patiently until a shriek to my right had me turning to see what was going on.
     
    A little boy was throwing a fit outside of the gift shop, yelling about wanting some rubber snake. That’s when my eyes locked on the jewelry counter. I had to get Lauren something to remember this day by, something to remember me by.
     
    About fifteen minutes later, the movie had already started when I snuck up the aisle with our drinks, candy and popcorn, to where Lauren waited—probably thinking I’d left her. Hopefully, she’d know there was no chance of that, ever.
     
    I reached our aisle and froze. She sat at the end, looking amazingly goofy in 3D glasses. I stifled a laugh and committed the image to memory.
     
    “You really are my little bug