The Mystic Hearts Series

Chapter 73- Keilani

Over the next few weeks, Amir tries to get acquainted with my world. I teach him all there is to know, & he takes it in excitedly. Days spent scuba-diving in the shallows. Swimming out to the mangroves. Having petty water fights & making silly faces at each other through the water. & I can't help... feeling overjoyed. Seeing him so much. Just being in his company. &... even if he never views me as anything more than a friend... at least I'll have that... At least I'll have these days spent in the summer sun.

"Hey..." He says to me 1 day. "Can I... meet your family? I've heard you talk about them before but... it'd be nice to meet them too... See what people have shaped your life."

"Mmm... I don't know... Some of them can be real assholes..."

He chuckles lightly, hand moving through his gorgeous curls absentmindedly. "That's ok... I don't mind... I just... wanna meet them..."

I nod slowly. "Ok... when I'm ready... but for now... Let's just try to spend as much time as we can together..."

He nods solemnly. "Yeah... before the summer ends..."

I look at him questioningly, eyebrows drawn together. "What... do you mean by that?"

He smiles sadly, looking away for a moment. "I... this is only the place where my parents' summer palace is... We stay here in the summer months to reach out to certain populations here... Do some philanthropy work... Get away from the city & stress... I have to go back to the city... the Capital, in the fall... go back to my tutors & responsibilities..."

My face falls. "Oh..."

He draws my chin up gently with his hand & I blush. "But it's ok... I can write you... Or send a text... Or something..."

I frown, shaking my head fervently. I pull his hand down from my face, though my hand lingers on his for a moment. "I... don't have a mailbox... or a phone..."

"Oh..." His eyes sadden, his hand still holding mine.

I look up suddenly. "But I could probably use the address at the shack in the forest near here... There's a kind family of earth elves there... I could send mail through there..."

"Oh, yeah." He smiles bittersweetly. "That'd be nice... Though it won't be the same as seeing you in person..." He looks down at the water's edge then back up at me, taking my hand slowly. "I'm... really going to miss you, Keilani..."

Ooo, is Amir about to confess? ,':)

Happy Pride, btw, guys. Y'all are valid & appreciated :3 <3