Find You in the Dark by A. Meredith Walters - Find You in the Dark 01 - Find You in the Dark Read Free Book Online Page A

you took my word on the biscotti.”  I said, indicating his plate with three pieces.  Clay smiled shyly.  “Yeah, I'm a little hungry.”  He sat beside me on the couch and carefully sipped his own drink.  I picked up my mocha and took a drink, careful to make sure my lips were free of whipped cream when I was done.
      Our silence was becoming more companionable than before.  There was still that little bit of awkwardness laced through it, but it was less noticeable.  “So what do you think of Jackson so far?  Does it live up to all of your high school fantasies?”  I asked as I swirled my biscotti into my coffee. 
      Clay gave an adorable snort and put down his mug, reaching for his own biscotti.  “I'm still waiting for the flash mobs, but other than that it has been just fine.”  He replied.  I sipped my coffee again, taking time to watch him hold his food with long, careful fingers.
      “ Fine?  That's it?  No stronger adjectives to use?”  I asked.  Clay met my eyes and I was once again taken aback by how dark they were.  So brown they were almost black.  He shrugged.  “All schools are really the same.  This one is no better or worse than the others I've been to.”
      His answers always gave just enough information to tantalize, yet never actually revealed anything.  I was a little hesitant to broach any subject that he deemed too personal after being abruptly shut down before.  But I had told him I wanted to be his friend.  He came here with me, right?  So that showed he wanted to be my friend too, I thought.  And friends got to know each other.  That was the whole point of friendship.  So, without giving myself time to ruminate more, I plunged right in.
      “ So you live with your Aunt Ruby.  Do you um...like living with her?  What's she like?”  I waited for his anger and was relieved when none came.  “You just don't give up do you?  We can't just sit here and talk about the weather?”  He asked lightly.  I shook my head.  “Nope, I want to know about you.  That's what friends do.”  “And we're friends?”  He asked me.  His eyes seemed to be asking something else, but I didn't know what.  So I nodded.  “I'd like to be anyway.”  I said.  Clay smiled.  “Friends then.”  I smiled back.  “So your aunt?”  I prompted.
      “ Yes, my aunt.  Well Ruby is pretty awesome.  She's my mom's older sister and they don't exactly get along.  Life style differences and all that.  Mom doesn't approve of Ruby's partner, Lisa.”  “Ahh.”  I said knowingly.  Clay dunked his biscotti in the hot drink and nibbled.  “But Ruby has always been there for me.  She's always helped out when I needed her.  So I'm thankful she let me come stay with  her and Lisa.  It was a life saver really.”  The way he spoke about his aunt made it clear how much he loved her.  My heart clenched at the raw vulnerability I heard. 
      “ She sounds like an amazing person.”  I told him quietly, not wanting to mess with the mood of intimacy that had wound around us.  Clay shook himself slightly, as if realizing how much he was actually revealing.  “Yeah, she's pretty fantastic.”  He said wistfully.  “And Lisa is a hoot.  She's this hardcore biker chick and she could definitely kick my ass if I got out of line.”  He laughed.  I laughed with him, picturing his aunt's girlfriend, the biker lady. 
      We finished our coffees and took the empty mugs up to the counter.  We left the shop and stood on the sidewalk, neither wanting to go our separate ways.  “So.” I remarked at the same moment that he said, “Well.”  We laughed awkwardly.  “Thanks for the coffee.”  I said, putting my hands in my jeans pockets.  “Sure, anytime.  I enjoyed myself. I'd like to do this again sometime.”  He admitted, looking at me through his thick lashes. 
      I relished his words, feeling happy that he liked spending time with me.  “Yeah, me