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9
Anna
Shivering,Ihurdledcloserto Max in the musty old blanket as the storm raged outside the barn.
I didn’t want to look at the once sturdy wooden beams that were now rotting. Ethan, Jake, and I hadn’t gotten around to cleaning the barn, so there were cobwebs by the corners and floating dust in the air.
Not wanting to dwell on the barn’s state, my mind wandered to sunnier days.
The barn’s wood gleamed with red polish then. There was always the scent of fresh hay, and the floor was covered in straw. At one corner was the ladder that led to the hayloft where I often hid.
This barn had been a magical place for a young girl like me. But what made those memories truly special were the moments spent with Max.
Here, we’d played hide-and-seek.
I could hear his voice echo in my mind.
“Ready or not, here I come!”
I’d buried myself beneath layers of hay in the hayloft, giggling at the thought of Max never finding me. The heat of the hay mixed with the scent of fresh wood. I listened intently, heart pounding at the sound of his approaching footsteps.
After what felt like an eternity, a hand grabbed my arm. It pulled me out of the hay. Max, with straw in his hair and sweat on his brow, grinned triumphantly.
“Thought you could outsmart me, didn’t you?”
His laughter had been infectious. We ended up laughing until our stomachs hurt. Then, we lay side by side on top of the hay, staring at the wooden beams above.
I recalled another sunny afternoon when we pretended to picnic in the barn. Max had brought his own food while I took jelly sandwiches, peanut butter, cheese, and cotton candy. Then he playfully teased me, his eyes twinkling as he tried to make me laugh.
Back in the present, I unconsciously leaned into Max, seeking comfort. I missed those carefree days with him.
Turning towards him, I could see the chiseled features of his face. The light stubble that graced his jaw. His breath had the aroma of mint and the day’s hard work.
Max adjusted, causing our arms to brush. I looked up to find him studying me. Those eyes bore a deep intensity. There was desire in them, an invitation and a question all at once.
I remembered those eyes in a younger Max, the playful challenge in them as we shared secrets. But the look he gave me now was different. Deeper and more intimate than anything we’d shared before.
The dim light filtering in through the door caught the curve of his lips. The air grew thick, charged with energy.
We leaned toward each other, and every rational thought was drowned out by the pull of the moment. We were inches apart. We were so close that I could count the rain droplets on his lashes.
His hands ran through my hair. Touched my scalp. Massaged it with such gentleness. A soft gasp escaped my lips as warm tingles traveled from my head to my stomach. His gaze lingered on my lips, and I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. His lips parted slightly, inviting me in.
A scripture Grandpa used to recite resonated in the back of my mind:
“Flee from youthful passions.”
Another verse from Thessalonians spoke of avoiding even the appearance of evil.
The words acted as a grounding force. As much as my body wanted to get lost in the moment, the Christian beliefs I’d imbibed later in life acted as an anchor, pulling me back from the edge.
I drew a shuddering breath and placed a soft hand on Max’s chest. His heart beat rapidly, just like mine. Our breaths were uneven.
With great effort, I pulled away from him, breaking the spell.
“Max, I can’t. We can’t. Not like this, not now.”
A tinge of disappointment clouded his eyes. Then he left the warmth of the blanket and wrapped himself with the tarp.
