[FEATURED on @teenfiction and @YA] After a life-changing move, Winter Moore realizes she needs to learn to climb if she wants to kick old habits and have a chance at her dreams. Murdoch Hayes, a lone-wolf and rock climber extraordinaire, might just...
Winter rose to her feet with a sigh and descended the steps loudly enough for her aunt to hear. Rose quieted her ranting as he niece strode through the living room and into the entrance hall.
"Just going for a walk," Winter said in a chipper tone to avoid suspicion.
"Okay, be safe. Don't be out too late," Rose called, covering her phone with her hand to (mercifully) protect her brother's ears. They needed some reprieve from the beating they'd just endured, as well as rest for the earful that was coming.
After walking a few blocks into the neighborhood where her school was, Winter realized she should have brought a water bottle. Though, the absence of one gave her a good excuse to indulge in a nice cold pop from the corner store nearby.
She purchased a bottle of ginger ale and a pack of gum and set out to continue her stroll through the Sharpton streets. On her way out, however, she ran into Luke, stopping her in her tracks.
"Winter," he piped in surprise. "What's up?"
"Just out for a walk."
"Join you?" he asked as he made his way to the store.
"Sure," she agreed, waiting outside for him to finish his shopping.
When he emerged from the doors, the two wordlessly fell into stride and found themselves back at the culvert where they'd first kissed. It occurred to Winter that now would be the perfect time to tell him about Murdoch, and she was filled with dread.
But she knew she owed him as much, and more.
He sat on the edge of the culvert and fished out a pair of beer bottles as Winter shuffled up next to him. He popped the lids off the lip of the concrete slab, and handed one to Winter.
"Best not make a habit out of this," she said idly while she mentally prepared herself.
Luke nodded in agreement as he tilted his bottle towards Winter. They clanged them together in cheers and each took a deep drink of the bitter liquid. He paused after his first sip, setting his hands and bottle to rest in his lap as he gave Winter a tight-lipped look. He quirked his chin up and raised his brows in wait, his long legs swinging over the culvert to distract his nerves.
"Luke," Winter said finally. "About what we talked about last time we were here-" she stopped to look at him and felt pained by his expression, like he'd been expecting this all along. She tried to ignore the taut flex of his jaw and his unblinking, kind green eyes.
She sighed and decided that a direct approach was best. "I kissed Murdoch," she admitted.
Luke stared blankly for a beat before finally blinking, then nodded and took a swig of his bottle. He waited patiently for her to continue.
"It was impulsive and I didn't really know what I was doing, but that doesn't change anything. It was wrong; it was wrong, and I wasn't thinking about you in that moment." She inhaled and discreetly swallowed the tenseness in her throat down.
"And that's why I can't give you what you want from me. I can't return what you've given me."
Luke smiled dryly, but was quickly overtaken by a good-natured smile and chuckle. He took another drink from his bottle.
"I had a hunch," he said, side-eying her with a friendly smirk as he took another sip.
Winter's eyes lit up like a deer's caught in headlights. "There's really nothing there. It's not about him, it's just me. It was just me being impulsive in a time of vulnerability," she explained, but convinced neither Luke nor herself.
Luke laughed to himself, a cheeky grin plastering his face as he shook his head at Winter. Then, his smile and playfulness faded and he looked at the girl beside him seriously.
"It doesn't change what I said before or how I feel about you," he declared. Then, he kissed his teeth and smiled defeatedly. "But I know when I'm beat."
Winter watched him as he swirled the remaining beer in his bottle around, the sunlight cruising in through the canopy dancing and reflecting off the brown bottle as he did so.
Her brows tensed together in shame. She opened her mouth to apologize or offer some indication of grievance, but quickly realized that Luke deserved far greater than her pity.
"Thank you, Luke, for being so understanding and for liking me."
They shared a long moment where their eyes looked between one another in search of something, but they both came up short.
Through a peaceful smile, Luke said, "My pleasure."
Winter returned the smile as Luke brought his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a comforting hug and placing a chaste and final kiss on the crown of her head.
***
If only more guys were like Luke, I swear. *Cough cough* Talking about you, Joe!
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