Page 59 of Light Up My Life

“Be careful,” I whispered.

He smiled at me, and that made my heart race. I leaned forward and gave him another quick kiss on the lips.

“Do you want me to fall?” he teased.

My eyes went wide. “No, I’m sorry.”

“I’m teasing you, Jasmine. I’m fine.” Then he was climbing down the ladder. When he reached the ground, I let out a breath of relief. He somehow had the ladder on its side in one quick motion. Then he collapsed it. I attempted to put my screen back in, but after several minutes of failed tries, I leaned it against the wall, slid the window closed, and shot off a text:

I need a screen professional to help me put this back in. Know anyone?

I could see him walking across his backyard toward the shed. He wouldn’t see my text. I turned away from the window, listening for my moms. I couldn’t hear anything.

My phone buzzed. You want me to come back up? was his response.

I whirled around and squinted. He was standing outside his shed now, ladder-less, staring up at my window. He lifted his hand in a wave.

I waved back, then responded: No, just next time both our parents are gone, you can come over and show me how. You shouldn’t have to risk your life that many times in one night.

You could ask your brother. I bet he knows how.

I couldn’t ask Marcus. He was just as against me talking to Ryan as my moms were. He’d ask me why my screen was out. I wouldn’t be able to lie to him.

Can’t ask him.

He doesn’t like me?

He doesn’t know you.

Tell him some nice things about me.

He doesn’t know we talk, Ryan.

Oh. Right.

Even though I couldn’t see his expression from this far away, I could hear the hurt in that text.

We’d both been clear that this was to remain a secret. That we were talking behind our parents’ backs.

And now kissing behind their backs!

Maybe Ryan hadn’t realized that meant my brother too. Not telling Marcus made this feel even more secretive, more hopeless. I pulled the string and lowered my blinds.

Not one second later, the handle on my door jiggled. I gasped.

“Hey! Is this locked?” Harris called out.

I grabbed the window screen and tucked it into my closet. Then I unlocked and swung open my door. Harris wrapped his arms around me in a hug. Mom was standing behind him. She scrunched her brows at me. Had she noticed the missing screen? Could she tell that I’d just been kissing Ryan?

No, of course she couldn’t tell. The blinds were closed. The screen was hidden away. Ryan was long gone. I was just feeling guilty.

“I was changing,” I said.

Her eyes went to my pajamas. Had she seen me in them earlier after I brushed my teeth? I never lied, and I obviously wasn’t good at it.

“Why’s it so cold in here?” Harris asked, pulling away and rubbing his arms. My brother was going to give me away.

“I don’t know.”