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She placed her foot on my board and tossed me a smile. Once again, I had to fight back a boner. Yael was even more perfect on my skateboard.
We spent the better part of an hour rolling up and down our street. I pointed out our house—you know, in case she ever needed to borrow some sugar. At one point, my dad and grandpa came out on the porch, watching us like creepers and waving like nerds.
Yael wasn’t good at skateboarding, but I wasn’t naturally either. My center of gravity was too high, and I had to fight against it constantly. But I’d been on a board since I could walk, so I knew what I was doing.
She flopped on the grass in my front yard, my dad and grandpa having disappeared back inside. I sat next to her, leaning back on my hands and peering down at her perfectly symmetrical face. Her nose was straight and narrow, her cheekbones high and faintly round, and her chin came to a precise little point. I still found it pretty hard to believe this girl was choosing to hang out withme.
“Can I tell you a secret?” she asked.
“Yeah, if you want to.”
She sighed, her eyes shifting to the leaves hanging down from the tree shading us. “I’ve decided to start anew. No one knows me here. I can be who I want. Today was an experiment. I’m trying out being a confident, cool girl.” Her gaze met mine. “How’d I do?”
My stomach did a nosedive. She was too good to be true. None of this was real. “You fooled me, so pretty damn good.”
She sat up quickly and touched my arm. “I wasn’t trying to fool you, Alex. It’s just...I’ve always lived in my brother’s shadow. He’s easygoing, everyone likes him. I’m Mo’s little sister, the awkward one people are sometimes nice to because of him.” Her fingers tightened. “Don’t get me wrong, I adore Mo. We’re two peas and all that. But since he and I are both new, I thought I’d have a chance to strike out on my own. And you...you looked like someone I’ve always wanted to talk to, but never would have had the guts to. Mostly because Mo would have already claimed you as his. Which...you should be friends with him. He’s the best. But be my friend too, okay?”
I had no idea how to respond to that, so I said sure. We could be friends, even though I’d be thinking about how her lips might taste like every second she was in my presence.
She dropped her hand from my arm and let it fall on top of mine. “So...now that that’s settled, tell me something about you, Alex Murray. What else do you do in the land of McMansions?”
“I can walk on my hands.” Why would I have possibly said that?
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe you. I think I need to see this.”
“Ah, a challenge. I cannot possibly turn you down,” I said, hopping up. Yael cheered me on when I flipped upside down, walking easily on my palms. She seemed completely delighted, so I kept going until I got dizzy, then I laid on the grass beside her, catching my breath.
“Oh my, that was impressive. Doubly so since you were blind before your recent medical miracle.” She made her fists into pom-poms and shook them around like a cheerleader. “Tell me what other astonishing talents you have.”
I tapped my fingers on my stomach, my face turned toward hers. “I play guitar.”
She propped herself up on her elbow, eyes round and alight. “Well, now I know Mo’s definitely going to steal you away. Just my luck. The one interesting person I meet and you’re a musician.”
“Your brother’s a musician?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, a devil of one. He wants to form a band and get serious.”
I propped myself up too. “I’d be into that. But I’d still want to be your friend.”
Yael’s lips curved into the sweetest, saddest smile. “We’ll see about that. If you and I aren’t meant to be friends, at least we can always look back on today fondly.”
“How could I forget the girl who showed me what true beauty is and told me to always look up at night?”
I had literally never had a conversation like this, but I never wanted it to end. She, on the other hand, sat up, checking the time on her watch.
“Drats. I better get home. My mother probably thinks I’ve been kidnapped.” She pushed my shoulder. “You’ll come by tomorrow, right? We’ll swim, and you’ll bond with Moses. A girl just moved in beside me who I think has friend potential. I’m going to invite her too.”
We both stood, and I rubbed my sweat-covered palms on my shorts. “Would you like me to walk you home?”
Her laugh was soft and a little husky. “You’re being a gentleman, and I am so here for it, but if I bring you home, Moses will see you, and I want to keep you as just mine for today. Tomorrow you can be his too, okay?”
I nodded, disoriented. I could have been agreeing for her to sell my skin on the black market. The way she spoke made my brain swirl. The pureness of her beauty could have had something to do with it too.
She lifted her hand as she backed away. “Bye, Alex Murray. Meeting you was a highlight.”
“Of what?” I asked.
She cocked her head. “I haven’t decided yet. Quite possibly my life.”
Then, she was gone, her long legs carrying her away. I fell down on my parents’ front lawn, completely and totally lost. Yael Aronson just came into my world and rattled it around until everything was slightly different. I wasn’t sure it’d ever be the same.
