Unti Stand-alone Teen Novel

“I miss you,” I said quietly. “I know I saw you a few hours ago but I already miss you. I want to see your face. I want to feel your arms around me,” I said, and closed my eyes. “You feel so strong and you make me feel safe and I just—I think you’re amazing,” I whispered. “You’re so wonderful that sometimes I honestly can’t believe you’re real.”

“I don’t want space,” he said. “I’ve never wanted less space.”

I didn’t know what to say. My heart was hurting.

“Do you?” he said, and his voice was suddenly strained again. “Do you really want space from me? Honestly?”

“Of course not,” I whispered.

He was quiet for a second or two. And when he next spoke, his words were soft. So sweet. He said,

“Is it because I kissed you?” he said, and his voice was strained. “Was that—should I not have done that?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. This conversation was already doing things to my nerves. “Ocean,” I said, “the kiss was amazing.” I could hear him breathing. I could hear the way his breathing changed as I spoke. “The kiss was perfect,” I said. “Kind of blew my mind.”