This Sky by Autumn Doughton

Author:Autumn Doughton [Doughton, Autumn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Amazon: B00MN07DDM
Publisher: Llama Drama
Published: 2014-08-10T23:00:00+00:00

Landon

My fingers ache from transcribing the short story I wrote earlier to my laptop. I save the document then I crack my knuckles and push away from my desk. The rolling chair slows down to a full stop by my bed. Wyatt is sitting back on his haunches staring at me with sad eyes. He’s been giving me this exact same look since I got home from Aunt Zola’s. That was hours ago.

I consider him for another second. “A walk?”

I haven’t even finished the question before he’s bouncing around on his feet, turning himself in circles.

“Okay, okay.” I grab his leash and my keys and I’m out the door.

The sounds of voices and faint music are coming from Julie’s apartment. My heart picks up, but I don’t stop. I don’t blink. I keep my eyes ahead, my legs moving fast until I’m down the stairs, around the block, and heading up Parker Street. From there I take a right and move toward Broward. Thoughts are pooling in the back of my head, dribbling from the corners of my eyes like invisible tears.

Thoughts about before. Thoughts about who I was then and who I want to be now. Thoughts about how I let things fall apart and how, just maybe, I’m falling apart all over again. Thoughts about Gemma.

I loop Wyatt’s leash around a bike rack and grab a coffee at this little corner shop I know. Actually, it’s the place I took Gemma when we went surfing that first morning.

I take my coffee black. Gemma, I noticed when we were here, likes the sweeter stuff.

Damn it.

There I go again—my brain screaming shit at me that I don’t need to hear right now. But I can’t help it. She’s been inside my head all day—her voice and her soft, swollen lips, and the possibility of it all. This. This. This.

As I stumble down a silent, deserted side street, stepping upon a murky web of smoke and ghostly light and towing a happy-footed Wyatt behind me, I remember the filmy shadows around Gemma’s face and the way it felt to lean in, nearly tumbling into her glittering eyes. I remember how warm it was next to her, and how my hands had moved, sucked in by her powerful gravity. I remember her faltering pulse and trembling black lashes and the whisper of her sweet breath on the skin of my neck.

I ball my hands into tight fists at my side.

I don’t realize I’ve walked all the way to the beach access until I’m standing fifteen feet from the water. Giving in, I sit down and cross my legs. I pull Wyatt toward me and unhook the leash from his collar. Dogs aren’t strictly allowed at this beach but right now there’s no one around to complain. As he scampers off to inspect a small dune, I put my hands flat on the sand and watch the waves awhile.

I stare out at the Pacific and worry about wanting more than I can have. I worry about Gemma and all the ways I’m getting tangled up over her.

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