Page 161 of Thorn Kiss
“Whynot is a community. Whynot gave me a chance at connections with new friends, new ideas, and an appreciation for the world around us.”
The mountains I’d been staring at every single sunrise spread across the screen, the skies behind them vibrant. Thetumbleweed rolled along the bottom, the landscape bursting with moving pieces. Coyotes, foxes, rabbits, and yes—I’d even added a scorpion.
“I even met two people who changed my life here.”
Our animated selves came up on the screen and Dallas’s mouth dropped. “Holy shit. You animated us.”
“Yeah,” I laughed, the tears still streaming.
June sniffled next to me, her eyes shining. “You drew all my tattoos.”
“Of course I did. I’ve memorized every single one.”
On the screen, we pulled June into a hug, the three of us holding each other. Flowers started to grow on the screen again, chasing away everything until we were left with the desert.
“What I’ve found is that Whynot is not only a special place, it’s a home. And as they say here—why not fall in love with Whynot?”
The animation ended and I buried my face against Dallas’s chest as everyone cheered and clapped. My cheeks burned, but I found myself grinning.
I’d done it.
Dallas kissed me again. “You are so insanely talented, Madi. I can’t believe you animated us.”
“That was beautiful,” June hiccuped.
Avery’s voice echoed across the field. “Thank you again to Madi, our visiting artist who’s now—I think, I hope—here to stay.”
Dallas, June, and I held onto each other with grins. I jolted as the sound of a tuba followed, strangling a laugh as the band started across the field.
“I think that’s our sign,” June called.
“I think so too,” Dallas agreed. “Do we . . . actually have any interest in football?”
“No, but Idohave interest inballs,”I said.
June beamed as Dallas’s expression turned to pure amusement, his cheeks reddening.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said.
I smiled to myself.
We had a lot to figure out.Ihad a lot to figure out. Seeing if ABBA Studios would still take me, figuring out how in the hell I was going to get my stuff here, deciding where I was going to live. Or wherewewould live.
But, I was staying. When I came to Whynot, I’d made a promise to myself. I wasn’t going to hide the real me. I wasn’t going to pass up the chance for something good.
Dallas and June were better thangood.
I stole one more kiss from each of them, knowing that this was really where the rest of my life would begin.
Becausewhy notlet love bloom in the most unlikely of places?
“Let’s go home.”
Madi
“Y’all,” I called as I squinted out the front window. “She’s back.”
“Goddamn it,” Dallas called from the other side of the house.
