Always Here

Leila

Christopher’s words sent a flurry of butterflies through my stomach. He made it sound like we were still on the fence. I supposed we were, but it was hard not to want it all with him. I wanted him. I wanted to be with him but both of us still had one foot in the single lane.

“I will always be here for you,” I managed to say.

“Olin is a good kid,” he said before busting out a laugh. “I hear myself say that a lot. I think I might be trying a little too hard to convince myself.”

“I doubt that. I didn’t get the feeling there was anything inherently evil about him. He’s a teenager. I’ve seen a lot worse. Olin seems like a kid trying to find his way.”

He slowly nodded. “That’s my opinion as well. I want to help him, but I feel like every time I get him going down the right path, he jerks back.”

“He’s independent, that’s a good thing.”

“It reminds me of when he was younger, like a lot younger. He absolutely hated holding our hands when we were out somewhere. I used to get so angry. I w