AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I look at another group of stars. “Those stars look like a giant dog? Is there a dog constellation?”
“Where are you looking?” he asks.
I point with my right index finger. “Right there,” I say, tilting my head to the left. “Yup. It definitely looks like a dog.”
“Let’s look it up,” Austin says, flipping through his book. A few minutes later he points to a page. “Oh yeah, there is a dog one, it’s called Canis Major. But I don’t think you can see it in the northern hemisphere this time of year.”
“Hmm.”
“Maybe you just invented your own constellation,” he says. “A different dog one. Maybe they’ll each fight for their own territory in the sky.”
“You’re such a dork,” I say.
Austin gives me a cheesy grin. “What are you going to name it?” he asks.
I think for a second, tapping my finger on my chin for dramatic effect. “How about Amma,” I finally declare.
Austin laugh-snorts. “What the heck is Amma?”
“Austin and Emma combined. It’s what they’d call us if we were a celebrity couple,” I say. “I thought it was a good idea, to commemorate our first official date together. But now I realize how silly it sounds.”
Austin sets down the telescope and wraps his arms around me from behind. “I didn’t mean to laugh,” he says. “I didn’t get it. But I think Amma is the perfect name.”
I smile, tilting my head so it rests on the back of his hand. His hand is much stronger than I would have imagined for a guy labeled as a dork. Then Austin gets to his feet and I tip backwards.
“Sorry,” he says with a smile. I look up into his grinning face. Austin offers me his hands, which I gladly take, and he pulls me to my feet. “I have one more thing planned before I need to get you home,” he says. His hand stays in mine as he pulls me through the darkened park. We stop beside the old, metal swing set. The one that has a broken swing dangling from one end.
Austin jumps onto a swing and begins pumping his legs. “I bet I can still jump farther than you,” he says.
“Umm,” I hesitate. “Are you sure these things are safe?” I ask. I can’t take my eyes off the broken chain.
“Sure,” he says.
“Wow, I am filled with reassurance now,” I say dryly.
“Come on, Emma, you almost killed yourself tonight, trying to climb higher than me in the tree. Where’d your sense of adventure go?”
“I think it snapped off and is dangling somewhere over there, with the swing,” I say, pointing.
“Alright then, I guess I win by default,” he says. “If you don’t play, you can’t win.”
Austin begins to pump harder until he’s swinging so high, his chain bounces every time he comes down. “I guess you’re just a scaredy cat.”
Austin’s words are combative, but his tone is teasing. I know he’s just baiting me. Yet I can feel myself giving in.
“Ugh! Fine.” I sit on the swing next to Austin’s and it doesn’t take long to get as high as him. I close my eyes and enjoy the cool night air as it flies past my face. I remember swinging as a kid. I’d always close my eyes and pretend like I was flying.
I realize how quiet it is and peek my eyes open to find Austin watching me. His cheesy grin is plastered on his face again. “You ready?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I haven’t done this in a long time.”
“You can do it,” Austin says. “Not as far as I can, but you can do it.”
“Gee thanks.” If we were on the ground, I’d slug him in the arm.
“One…”
I squeeze my eyes shut.
