Beginnings of the Heart Read Free Page A

you?”
    â€œI do.” I said.
    â€œOnly when it’s been approved by your parents. I’ll see you in about twenty minutes. Love you.” Cole said.
    â€œLove you more.” I said and hung up the phone.
    Cole arrived, and I went to open the front door for him. My mom lifted her head from the book she was reading on the couch in the living room to look out of the window to see who was there. When she saw Cole, her eyes narrowed slightly and she pursed her lips, but before she could say anything, I turned to her.
    â€œI know you wanted me to stay around home today so Cole decided to come down here. We’re just going to take a walk and see who’s around.”
    â€œI guess. I expect you won’t be gone for too long?” Mom asked.
    â€œI’ll be home before dinner.” I said and almost ran out the door before she could say anything else.
    I met Cole on the sidewalk in front of the house. He took my hand and bent to brush his lips across mine. The simple gesture set off a firestorm in my mind and made my heart begin to race. He gave my hand a little tug to get me moving.
    We had walked halfway to the corner before either of us spoke.
    â€œAre you sure you’re okay?” he asked me. “You’re kind of quiet.”
    â€œNo, I’m fine. I’m still… I don’t know, embarrassed I guess. I mean, it’s like everything changed last night, but I don’t really feel any different. It’s going to take some time for me to get my head wrapped around it.” I said.
    â€œHas anyone ever said you overthink things.” Cole said with a cocky smile on his face. “The only things you need to remember are my feelings for you haven’t changed at all and you have nothing to be embarrassed about. And before you start worrying everyone is going to know, no one will unless we tell them and we aren’t going to.” Cole said.
    â€œI guess you’re right. Anyway, what do you want to do? There really isn’t a whole lot here.”
    â€œI know, but as long as I can spend time with you I don’t care. Let’s go down to the creek and talk some more. Maybe I can convince you to think like me on other topics.” He said, laughing.
    â€œYou may have to work a little harder than you think. I do tend to overthink everything. I might not come around as quickly as you believe.” I said, smiling.
    We made our way down to the creek winding its way through town and found a quiet spot under some trees. Their branches stretched out over the water as it babbled over the smooth stones lining the bottom.
    We sat down on the soft grass, and I slipped off my flip flops and dangled my feet in the water. It felt cool in the hot afternoon and raised goose bumps on my arms and legs. Cole leaned back against a tree and crooked his finger at me. I went to sit beside him. I laid my head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around me.
    â€œYou know.” Cole’s voice broke into my thoughts. “I’m kind of glad last night happened. And not for the reasons you think. Maybe now you’ll realize my love for you is not the fickle thing you assume it to be. I’m hoping you realize I’m not going anywhere.”
    â€œYou’re right.” I grudgingly admitted after a minute of thinking. “I was scared you would get tired of me and move on to someone else. I still am. I don’t want you to go anywhere and needing you so much is… I don’t know. When I think about it I hear my mother’s voice in my head saying I’m too young to be this serious about a boy, but I try to silence her voice as much as I can. Is there something wrong with being in love and knowing what you want at our age?”
    â€œI don’t think so, but I am a little biased. Listen, the only people who need to worry about us is us. I know our parents have their own opinions about things, but when it comes down to it, we’re the