Read Threads That Bind (Havoc Chronicles Series Book 1) for Free Online

of ‘what do you want to do?’ but Josh surprised me.
    “Do you want to go to the Riverside Trail?” he asked.
    I had heard plenty of stories about what went on at Riverside Trail. It was a nice paved path along the river on the east side of town, but it was also very secluded with plenty of places along the trail to find some privacy.
    I hesitated. Did I want to be alone with Josh? And what was he expecting?
    He must have sensed my discomfort. “Just to walk, I mean,” he said, blushing. It was his cute blush that won me over - a gentleman’s blush.
    “Sure,” I said. “Let’s go.”
    ***
    The feeling I had as we pulled into the parking lot at Riverside Trail was nothing short of surreal. Was I really here – with Josh? Me? A few months ago, I would never have believed it possible.
    Josh opened my door for me and held out his arm. I briefly debated taking my purse - it held the EpiPen that I kept because of a severe allergy to bee stings – but I decided the inconvenience of taking my purse outweighed the minimal odds of getting stung, and I left it in the car. I slipped my arm in his and together we strolled down the path, mostly in silence. It was a typically beautiful Northwest late summer evening. The sky was clear, and the stars visible through the gaps in the tall trees. The moon was out, not quite full, but bright enough to cast shadows as we walked. Occasionally, as the path followed the course of the river, it would turn and the moon would be reflected on the surface of the water. It was beautiful, almost breath-taking.
    Several times we passed other couples walking back the other way, but for the most part we were alone.
    Josh adjusted his arm, pulling me in closer. That was something I wanted to encourage. Feeling brave, I leaned in and rested my head on his shoulder as we walked. “What are you thinking about?” I asked.
    “You don’t want to know,” he said.
    “Sure I do.”
    He shook his head. “Nothing, really. I was just letting my mind wander. It’s relaxing being with you, and I was just enjoying the moment.”
    I chuckled. “What a total cop out. But I do like that you feel relaxed around me.” Which was partially true. Yes, I wanted him to be relaxed, but the part of me that had watched too many movies wanted him to be so nervous he could hardly make a coherent sentence. Was that too much to ask? Ok, probably. But the fact that he didn’t seem at all nervous made me wonder how much he really liked me.
    “What about you,” he asked. “What deep and profound thoughts are you currently experiencing?”
    I shook my head and wagged a finger at him. “Oh, no, the secrets of the female mind are not so easily obtained.”
    Josh stopped and pulled me close, putting both his arms around me. “They’re not, huh? Just how are these... secrets obtained?”
    “You have to earn them,” I said, breathing in deep, enjoying his scent and the feel of his arms around me. I reached my arms around him and put my head on his chest. This felt good. It felt safe. I could have stayed like that for years. This was what I had been fantasizing about for the past five years.
    He reached a hand up and stroked my hair. It sent shivers down my back. “Earn them, huh?” he said. “By doing what?”
    “Oh, it’s not difficult to earn a female’s secrets,” I said. I pulled back a little and smiled at him. “All you have to do is to know us so well, be so focused on our emotional needs, so invested in the relationship that you instinctively know what we are thinking, without having to be told.”
    Josh laughed. “Oh, is that all? And to think I thought it would be difficult.” He leaned in, his face only a few inches from mine. “Am I focused enough?” he asked.
    It suddenly became very hard to breathe. My heart began to pump faster as the realization of what was happening began to sink in.
    He was going to kiss me.
    Was I ready for this? Of course not. How could I possibly be ready for something