Beating Heart by A. M. Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page A

because she already has.” Then he steps into the open doorway. “Hi, Mom,” he says. “Carrie’s here.”
    Mom actually turns away from her computer. “Hi, Carrie. How have you been?”
    â€œFine, Ms. Calhoun.”
    â€œCome on,” Evan tells Carrie, “I’ll show you the upstairs.” He’s already moving away.
    â€œRemember the rule,” Mom warns him.
    â€œI know.”
    As they head for the stairs, Carrie asks, “Which rule is that?”
    â€œThe ‘doors are to remain open at all times’ one. Mom thinks that will keep us from”—he glances at Libby, who is running to catch up—“doing certain things.”
    â€œWell, it’ll keep me from doing certain things, that’s for sure. I could just see your mom or sister walking in on us.”
    â€œIt could depend how fast we were, though, couldn’t it?”
    â€œNo, I’m serious. Don’t even think about it. I really do want to see the house, anyway.”
    â€œDon’t even think about what?” Libby asks, tailing them up the stairs.
    Evan sighs. He can’t ask Libby to leave them alone,because Mom relies on Libby, as well as the open-door rule, to be a deterrent to premarital sex.
    She’s a good one, too. “Carrie! Carrie! See my room?” Libby darts ahead, leading the way. “Want to see my pictures? Look, I drew this one of a butterfly. He’s eating the flowers, see?”
    â€œOh, yes. It’s very colorful,” Carrie assures her.
    â€œAnd here he’s pooping them out. That’s colorful too, isn’t it?”
    â€œYes,” says Carrie weakly. “Colorful.”
    Evan groans. “God, Libby!”
    â€œOh.” It dawns on Libby. “I’m sorry. I’m not supposed to talk about poop to company,” she explains to Carrie.
    â€œHey, Lib,” Evan says quickly. “Why don’t you dress Lucinda up in that bride dress so you can show Carrie?”
    â€œOh! Okay!”
    Mercifully, she starts digging in her doll bin. Evan knows it will take her a few minutes at least to get that dress on. He pulls Carrie across the landing. “This is my room,” he says, walking in. He’s actually made the bed for once, in honor of company. The bedspread isfolded back over white sheets; the pillow is white, lying neatly on top. For a second he flashes on his dreams, the closest thing to sex he’s ever had in this room, and for one knee-trembling second he allows himself to think of ripping the covers back and flinging Carrie onto the bed, onto those white sheets.
    Of course he can’t. Still, he keeps Carrie’s hand in his.
    She turns her head, looking around the room. “Um. It’s very—what’s the word?”
    â€œHomey?”
    â€œSpartan.”
    â€œIs that bad?”
    Her gaze falls on the Budweiser Girl. “I really don’t care for your choice of artwork.”
    Evan doesn’t want to get into a “discussion.” He gives her hand a little squeeze. “It’s okay. It reminds me of you.”
    â€œMe with about twenty pounds of silicone, you mean.”
    Evan glances over to the door. They’re alone. He steps closer to Carrie, close enough to feel her hairagainst his nose and lips. It’s dark and it’s not fine, it’s wavy and thick, but he says, very low, “No, just you.” If nothing else, he’s going to get at least a kiss before Libby comes back.
    Â 
    Â 
    his whisper touches her
    Â                  ear
    his breath warm
    his lips
    all tender curves
    Â 
    Â 
    his fingers are
    entwined with hers
    skin against skin
    Â 
    Â 
    I remember
    among the trees
    along the bluffs
    under the trees,
    giggling
    turned to
    kisses
    turned to
    touching
    turned to
    caught breath
    Â 
    Â 
    over
    his shoulder
    I watched
    the leaves above us
    grasping
    pieces
    of sun,
    tossing