The Silver Lining by Jennifer Raygoza Read Free Book Online

asked.
    “Yeah, I guess so.”
    “Follow me,” she said, jumping up from the table.
    I trailed behind her down the hallway into her bedroom. She pulled an album out and sat down on her bed. She looked up and patted the area next to her. I walked over and sat down, leaving a little space between us. She opened up the album.
    “This is her. My mother. Isn’t she pretty?”
    I leaned over, and glanced at the old, black and white photo of a young woman holding a baby.
    “That’s me when I was little.”
    “She’s beautiful like you,” I said.
    She looked at me for a second, and then back to the picture. I could hear her swallow the lump in her throat.
    “She doesn’t look like this anymore. The sparkle is missing. She just looks sickly.” Her voice cracked.
    She turned her head to the side, so maybe I couldn’t see her tears.
    “Hey, look at me,” I said.
    It took a few seconds before she turned to me. I slid closer to her. I took my hand and placed it on her wet cheek slowly wiping it dry.
    “I don’t want her to die.” She sobbed. “Oh my God. I can’t believe I just cried to a stranger.”
    I wiped away the tears that fell down her cheeks. Her eyes were red and swollen now. Her skin was flushed and even in pain she was more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. Our faces were now inches from each other and my heart started to beat fast. I didn’t know why. I had kissed and taken plenty of women to bed, but she made me nervous and cautious. I wanted to protect her, care for her and give her affection at the moment. She was like a wounded bird and I wanted to fix her. I lifted her chin up with my thumb and slowly moved in. My lips softly connected with hers. I felt her hand grip the back up my head. My tongue slid into her mouth and hers into mine. Every ounce of pain she was feeling was thrust up out of her body and into that kiss.
    “I can’t do this,” she blurted out and pulled away.
    “I’m sorry. I don’t know you like that. I shouldn’t have kissed you.” I back stepped.
    “I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I don’t do whatever this is.”
    “This? I didn’t know this was a thing yet.”
    “Look, James, I have a lot on my mind. I don’t need a guy to come into the picture and distract me.”
    “I don’t understand what’s going on right now. It was just a kiss,” I said.
    “My mother is top priority. I don’t need a guy like you playing with my head. That’s what guys like you do.”
    “Guys like me, huh? I guess you’re an expert. It’s been less than twenty four hours since we met, and you have me all figured out. Congratulations.” I looked down. Why did I feel so offended by what she said? Maybe because I didn’t expect that to come out of her mouth. Last night she told me I was different, now I’m like everybody else. Is she trying to push me away? What’s her angle here?
    “I just meant I don’t have time for the games that’s all.”
    “I don’t play games, Emily. Maybe if you let yourself get to know me, you would find out I’m not that guy,” I stood up and walked out. I wasn’t mad. How could I be? Why would I be? We weren’t a couple. I barely knew her, yet I felt disappointed.
    “James!” Emily yelled.
    I was already headed to the living room to throw my shoes on. I still didn’t have a shirt, but I didn’t care. She jogged into the room after me.
    “I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant to say is…”
    “No. I get it. This is strictly a live in deal we made. I broke the line by kissing you. It won’t happen again.”
    “Thank you. We’re still good, right?” she asked.
    I sat on her couch feeling a range of emotions, but only choosing to show one. One in which I didn’t even feel, happy. I had to. She was standing there, just staring at me. It was best for me to pretend that nothing bothered me and go about my day. I didn’t need to fuck up my living situation, and I didn’t need to fuck up her head. She said it best