The Missing- Volume II- Lies by A. Meredith Walters, A. M. Irvin Read Free Book Online Page B

into a thousand, tiny pieces.
    “I’ve been playing around with a few melodies, but I can’t tell if they sound lame or not,” Maren said, changing the subject all the while plucking at her strings. She was wearing her silver rings. One on each finger. Her wrists were covered in shiny bangles that glinted in the sun.
    “I doubt they sound lame. I’m sure they’re amazing!” I laughed, leaning back against the tree trunk, my legs tucked underneath me. My hair was held back with a clip and it felt good. I felt good. No makeup. No hiding behind a curtain of hair. I wasn’t hunched over, hoping no one would see me.
    I was here. I was present.
    I was Nora Gilbert.
    Maren rolled her eyes. “You always say stuff like that, Nora,” she scoffed good-naturedly.
    I picked a blade of grass and twirled it between my fingers. “I say it because it’s true.”
    Maren lightly kicked my knee with her foot and I tingled everywhere. “You’re really good for my self esteem, you know that?”
    I sucked the grass between my lips, chewing it. “I like to make you feel good,” I told her softly, my voice rough. My eyes lingered on her lips. On her hair. On her neck.
    Maren flushed and looked away. There was a strange undercurrent between us today. I liked it. It was unsettled and tense. Like the air before a storm. It was anticipation and awareness.
    I spit the grass out and scooted a little closer. Maren’s was focused on her guitar again, and I felt as though we were in our own little bubble.
    “I’d like to take you somewhere. Would you come with me?” I asked her. Maren continued to play, her dark hair concealing her face. This time, she was the one hiding. I relished in finding her.
    I reached out and brushed her hair away, annoyed that I couldn’t see her.
    “Would you, Maren?” I prompted.
    Maren stopped playing and pressed her palm over the strings, silencing them. She chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes troubled. “Where do you want to go?” she asked.
    I leaned in a little closer, our arms brushed against one another. “Somewhere really important to me. Only Bradley knows about it. But I want to share it with you.”
    Maren glanced up and my heart sped up. She was so beautiful. It was almost painful to look at her. I inhaled deeply, holding the scent of her in my lungs.
    “Why do you want to share it with me, Nora? What do you think is going on here?” she asked, uncharacteristically short.
    I captured a piece of her hair between my fingers, fascinated with its softness. I loved the dark, chestnut brown and silky texture. I wondered what I’d look like with long, dark hair. Would I be beautiful too?
    “Stop, Nora,” Maren murmured, pulling back slightly, and my guts shredded into fragments. I was frightened that I’d overstepped. I felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells, afraid to press too much. But I was scared that if I didn’t make it clear how I felt, she’d never know. And Maren needed to know.
    My love for her was fueled by fear. It heated my blood and chilled my heart. I was terrified by how much I wanted her. And how far she pushed me away.
    Why did she always push me away? I knew she cared about me. We were intertwined in something necessary. Didn’t she realize that? Didn’t she know how much this thing between us mattered?
    What did I have to do to make her see?
    “Won’t you come with me?” I begged. I could hear the pleading note in my voice. I was desperate for her.
    Maren seemed conflicted. I didn’t understand why. We were simple. We were perfect.
    “Do you know what I noticed about you the first time we met?” Maren asked suddenly.
    I smiled. “No. What?” I asked eagerly.
    Tell me! Tell me!
    “I saw a sad woman hiding her face. You were so intense that you scared me a little. But you also intrigued me. I liked you. Just how you were.”
    I could burst with joy at her words.
    She liked me.
    Just as I was.
    Maren fingered the hem of my shirt that was so much like the