Climb (Club Kitten Dancers 3)

“This can’t be real.”

I pinch myself again.

“Stop that.”

“Are you real?”

“Sassy,” he says, and Elliott stands up, too. He walks around the coffee table and I back up as he approaches me.

My feet move on their own until I’m backing up and up and up and then my ankles hit the kitchen island. I’m in the kitchen. I’m away from Elliott.

Only I’m not.

I’m not away because he’s fucking following me.

“Stop,” I say again.

“No.”

“Why did you say that?”

“Because I meant it, sweetie.”

“Why would you love me?”

This can’t be real. Am I going into shock? Is that what this is? I’ve wanted Elliott for so long, craved him for so long. I’ve hoped for him for so long, and now he’s here, and he’s whispering the words I’ve longed to hear for an eternity.

He’s whispering all the right words and somehow, I feel like I’m going to go crazy.

“Why wouldn’t I love you, Sassy? Fuck. I’ve been wanting to say this for so long and I feel like I’m screwing it up.”

“How long?”

“Forever.”

“Me too.”

I cover my mouth as I blurt out the words. I said, “Me too.” I told him I feel the same way. I told him I love him.

“I love you, too,” I whisper. “I can’t believe I’m really saying it. This doesn’t seem real. It’s been forever and I’ve…I’ve thought about this so many times, you know? I’ve thought about this so many times. It doesn’t seem real.”

“How about this?” Elliott says. He’s finally standing right in front of me. He’s close and he’s getting in my space and then he leans down a little bit closer and whispers in my ear. “Does this feel real?”

Then he presses his lips to mine and the whole world starts to spin.

Chapter 6

Elliott

When I was a little boy, my parents moved with me to a new city. I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know a single damn person, and I was terrified.

Going to school as a kid in a new place was awful. Everyone already had their set of friends because they’d all been in school together since preschool. Social standings and peer groups had been well-established by the time we all reached third grade.

So when I walked into class and sat in the only empty desk I could find, I wasn’t expecting much. I wasn’t expecting anything. I wasn’t expecting the scrawny little girl sitting next to me to lean over and introduce herself.

“Hey,” she hissed. “I’m Serenity.”

“That’s a dumb name,” I said, not wanting to seem un-cool or eager. I didn’t want to seem like the fact that someone was saying “hello” to me was the best thing that had happened all day. I wasn’t about to let anyone know the move bothered me. I wasn’t about to let anyone know how hurtful it was to be the new kid, the lonely kid, the weird kid.