You know, you were the best wrong choice I ever made.
And then my fairly strict, wedding-obsessed mother fell apart in my arms.
I stalked her for her beauty but mostly for her bravery.
We spent some time in a school for troubled kids together a long time ago. My first day was his 1,865th. He refused to let any of the other kids mess with me. I never figured out why. But I never forgot either. He was my only friend then, and was still the only person I trusted. He was just immense. Six foot eight of dark handsome. He read a room like a scholar and would give me the lowdown in a husky whisper.
This was the version of her Blake she’d first met. They reconnected with the fire that had drawn them together and kept them together years later. For him, she would always burn.
Man, I look ugly when I cry.
He was jealous, he was dominant, and he was in love.
I’ll make sure he stands up and knows what he’s worth,” she’d interrupted. “There won’t be a day he’s not loved. I’ll say it with my hands – making a home for him. I’ll say it with my arms – hugging him so he knows his mother is present every day. His heart will never be alone. And I’ll say it out loud every day. Because it matters.
Kisses that danced with smiles tasted amazing.
Dove ripped her panties off her body like the Hulk and threw them in the corner.
Love was pain where I was from. And I was in so much love I wanted to die.
You made me fight. You gave me a reason to live when I had not one single reason left. You told me he was a bad man, but you believed I was good.
The ache in my chest hurt again. I didn’t know how to be me without her.
I faced her and she faced me, and in the space between us in bed, she held out her hand. I took it in mine. Connected at the heart. I went to sleep soon after instead of worrying about the ramifications of what we had done. The safety was a sedative.
And then he came in for the kiss. It was him and I was so used to him, but in a totally different way. A new way. Changing everything and realizing that nothing really had to change. He was already mine. His kiss was just ours. So different than the accidental kiss when we were kids. His lips tasted good. Slow and gentle, but my heart was racing fast. He stopped and checked my eyes. I nodded slightly. I was good. This was good.
You’re my heart. They know that. They all know that. There’s no me without you.
I’m yours.” I kissed her forehead. “I hope I’m enough.
I wasn’t a puppy with my tail between my legs. If he wanted to hit me, it’d be the start of a fight that I would end.
I hope you forgive me for what I had to do. I had to tell. They had to know. Just live, okay? And we can sort it out. Just live. Okay?
Just being together. Peace flooded my system. She was just right. Still. After all this time.