20. Cat

20

CAT

"Can we chat for a second?" I looked at Cleo as I nodded my head toward the edges of the market.

Suddenly suspicious of me, Cleo's eyes flicked from my face to my brother and his family. "Why?"

"I just had an idea for practice."

Daniel sensed his intrusion. "We're gonna keep looking, just come find us when you're done."

"Cool." Nodding, I watched them leave and disappear into the crowded street. Although it was more private now, I still craved that feeling of being with Cleo alone on that field. I wanted nothing more than to hunt down that feeling, like we were the only two people left on the planet.

Placing a gentle hand on Cleo's elbow, I guided us to behind a blue tent down a small alley between the flower shop and the chinese restaurant. "Sorry, I can't think with that many people around."

"Right." Cleo's forehead wrinkled.

Coming to a stop, I let out a sigh. We stood in silence for a moment as I caught up to myself.

"So practice?"

"Right." Nodding, I knew they were on to me. But I looked back at the farmer's market where the local pizzeria was setting out tables for lunch service. My mind flashed back to sitting there with Cleo in high school after practice.

I shook my head and rubbed my temples. "Does everywhere in this town remind you of us?"

With a laugh, Cleo shrugged. "It used to. But I've been here without you for a long time. I guess it's the benefit of not running from it."

Ouch .

I hadn't meant to run, I really was busy with training and ad spots. Maybe it was a convenient excuse, to avoid shit like this. Running into my ex at the farmer's market wasn't exactly my idea of a good time.

"You held my hand for the first time over there." I nodded toward the pizza shop, the red outdoor table sending a visceral memory through my body.

Face flushing, Cleo followed my gaze.

"We'd finished practice and were getting slices with the other girls. You put your hand on my knee under the table." My throat tightened as the sensation came back to me, their warm palm against the bare skin of my rough knee.

Cleo bit their lip. "I didn't even know I was gay, I just wanted to be closer to you."

Turning to look at her, I swallowed hard. We were only a foot away now, our breaths intertwining as they left our noses. "Do you still want to be close to me?"

"I don't know." Cleo's blue eyes pierced mine, a pain hiding in them that I'd never seen.

I took my cue and took a step back. "Yeah, that's fair." With my hand, I massaged the back of my neck as a sudden tension rose through the tight muscles.

But I felt a hand clasp around my wrist, turning me around and pulling me closer. My heart raced in my chest as I looked at Cleo.

Their eyes flicked between my eyes and my lips, their own chest rising and falling faster than I'd ever seen. "I hate how badly I've wanted to do this." They groaned as they pulled me closer, letting their lips press against mine.

Stunned for a moment, I froze until I remembered the soft skin of their plush lips. I took in a deep breath and kissed them back. My lips parted as we stood there, our hands pulling the other closer. I gripped their loose jeans by the belt loop and tugged their hips toward mine.

A slight grunt escaped their mouth, traveling into mine, as they kissed me harder. They let their tongue tease my lips, begging mine to join theirs.

But when we pulled apart for just a moment, our eyes met and my chest tightened.

What am I doing?