Unfaded Read Free

The son was outside, pacing around and still talking on the phone.
                  He spun around and I got my first glance at Kian. I didn’t know his name at the time but there was something about his face that made me immediately think that I’d seen him before. Of course my second thought was that I had to be wrong. If I had met him, I most certainly would have remembered. There was no girl in the universe that could forget his face. He was, without a doubt, the most beautiful looking guy I’d ever seen in my life.
                  He gave me a curt nod and then turned his back. He spoke into the phone in a language I didn’t recognize. It wasn’t Spanish for French, I knew that much for I’d studied both in school. He didn’t sound very happy but that wasn’t surprising—he’d almost taken a ride off a cliff.
                  I just couldn't help myself. I watched him for a few minutes, admiring the way his jeans fit him perfectly. His head was covered in snowflakes and as they melted, his brown, shaggy hair became slick and shiny. Every time he turned towards me I averted my gaze but found myself staring out of the corner of my eye. I just couldn’t help myself. When he finally got off the phone I did everything in my power to pretend I hadn’t just spent the last few minutes gazing at him like he was the only guy on earth.
                  “Sorry,” he said in the same unique accent like his father. Placing the phone in his pocket, he gave me a smile, showing straight, white teeth.
                  "That's ok," I said.
                  “I didn’t mean to be rude,” he said and he put his phone back in his pocket. “I needed to make a few calls. We were supposed to be somewhere. Now it looks like we’re not going to make it.”
                  “I’m sure people will understand,” I said. “It’s not every day that you come into such close contact with a tree.”
                  He smiled and stepped forward. His face came into the light and I got my first good glance at him. I’d never seen anyone with such a perfect face before. His skin was smooth, not a single blemish or pimple in sight. His hair was longish and naturally wavy. It wasn’t until he brushed the shaggy bangs back that I saw his eyes. They were bright blue.
                  My face burned. I pulled myself away and pretended to look off in the distance at nothing in particular.
                  “Where were you and your Dad going?” I asked. “Not that I'm nosy. You don't have to tell me.” His eyes followed my every move. With my luck he was the kind of guy who never missed a thing. The way he looked at me was embarrassing. I was beginning to feel like I had a booger on my face. It must have been some sort of family trait.
                  “My Dad?” he asked. There was a hint of amusement and sarcasm in his voice. “Yes, of course.”
                  “He's not your Dad? I'm sorry, I just assumed.”
                  "Yeah, he is," the boy said quickly.
                  "Oh. Ok."
                  “My name is Kian,” he said. “And you are...”
                  “Myra. But everyone calls me Mai.”
                  He took my hand and an electric shock exploded between us. I pulled back, giggling, rubbing my fingers.
                  “It’s the weather,” I said. “It gets dry because of the wind and everything becomes a static cling commercial. Even in the snow. Sorry about that.”
                  He was still holding out his hand so I took it and his fingers were cool and soft. Shaking my hand gently, his eyes started at my fingertips and worked their way back up to my face. Parting and closing his lips, he swallowed and smiled again.
    “I’m pleased to meet you, Mai. You look familiar. I