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“So, you’re falling in love with me, huh?” I smirk, still in disbelief that he spoke those words. His expression turns skeptical as he hums. “I mean, you’re all right.”
“I’m already there, but I figured you deserve to hear it first.” He takes a nervous breath and tucks my hair behind my ear. “I love you, Laiken. I am so massively in love with you, and I’m sorry that I didn’t realize it sooner.”
FINALLY
“What were you thinking, handing him a knife? What if he actually stabbed you?” The grin doesn’t leave his face as he shrugs. “I would’ve deserved it. I knew the rules. But I couldn’t stand to be away from you anymore. The pain of missing you is worse than anything he could’ve done to me.”
“I need you.” My words come out like a desperate plea. Hayes deepens the kiss, only stopping for a second to respond. “You have me, baby. You always have me.”
“Nuh-uh. Use your words.” “Fuck me,” I breathe. “I want you to fuck me.” He slows down as he leans forward and kisses me. “Not tonight, baby. Tonight, I want to love you.”
“You’re flawless,” he tells me as he presses back in. “So fucking perfect. And beautiful. And mine.”
All the pain and all the heartbreak—it was worth it because it got us here, where he’s loving me the best way he knows how.
I know without a doubt that I’m always going to remember the night he threw caution to the wind and then made love to me under the stars on our special beach. And if in the morning, we go skinny dipping just to fuck in the water again…well, that’s just how it goes when you’re young and in love.
I chose the wrong road and lost the one girl who means more to me than anyone. So, I turned the fuck around and chose again.
Though I’m not sure a single middle finger emoji really counts as a response.
And while she glared at me like she wanted to set me on fire and watch me burn, all I wanted was to see her smile. She’s always had such a pretty smile.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to come around,” I tell her. She reconnects the kiss once more and smiles. “It’s okay. You fell in love with me eventually.” I pull her just a little closer. “Hard and fast.” “Mm. Just how I like it.”
“Oh, I get it. You secretly love the way Lucas hits on you, and you don’t want your boyfriend to hear it.” “Boyfriend, huh?” She smirks,
But I still managed to subtly say I love you by writing it into the condensation of her beer bottle.
“You better hope that never happens to Hayes, or there will be no nieces or nephews in your future,” he tells him. Cam looks like he’s living in hell as he deadpans at Aiden. “Must you?”
Next time, maybe he’ll think twice before hitting on my girlfriend.
Apparently, he thought it was a good idea to shoot a hockey puck at Isaac’s junk. Revenge for hitting on me. Fucking caveman.
“I shot a well-aimed hockey puck into his no-no place.”
Around his friends? Sexy motherfucking badass. Around his mom? Angelic mama’s boy.
I shrug, smiling sweetly. “What? I can’t be the only one mad about your reckless move.” “It was romantic!” he shouts.
He turns to his mom. “Do you see the abuse I deal with?” She chuckles. “I like her. Someone needs to keep your ass in line.”
As I do a happy dance just for the sake of rubbing it in his face, he groans. “There is not enough testosterone in this house.”
“You are amazing,” he corrects me with a kiss. “I’m just trying to be somewhat worthy of your attention.”
“No,” he says with a small laugh. “I’m sure that will happen eventually, but you once told me I’m not allowed to skip steps. So, Laiken…” He pauses just to drive me insane. “Will you officially be mine? My out-in-the-open, hold-your-hand-no-matter-who-can-see girlfriend?”
When he places me back on the ice, I spin around to face him, smiling proudly. “I scored!” His eyes move across my face, and he puts his hands on my cheeks. “So did I.”
Looking back on it, I should’ve known I never stood a chance. This was going to happen because we’re meant for each other.
Everything feels like it’s starting to fall into place. I’ve got the girl of my dreams. The biggest pain in my ass is gone. And my best friend might not be talking to me right now, but this was the sign I needed. The one that tells me it’ll be all right.
I mentally add that to the endless list of reasons why I will love her for the rest of my life.
My gaze stays fixated on her, and I don’t think there’s ever going to be a time where I’m not in awe of everything she is. She’s so calm, so caring, that sometimes all I can do is admire her.
If there’s ever a time when this girl is all I have, I’ll be okay, because she’s all I will ever need.
“Watch your language,” I mock, fed up with all of this shit. “Fuckity fuck, fuck, fuck.”
“But for the love of God, answer my sister before she has a stroke.”
He rolls his eyes. “I mean, I can’t say I like it. The idea of you and Laiken together makes me want to wash my brain in acid.”
“Do I have to worry about you hurting her?” he asks after a moment. I shake my head without hesitation. “I’m crazy about her.”
I love Laiken. I really do. And if she was all I had, I know that I would be okay. But if I have her and my best friend, nothing can ever bring me down.
“Dude, we live in North Carolina. Where the fuck do you see any islands?”
My brother glances between the two of us before sighing. “I wonder if bleach would work.”
This, right here, is exactly what I needed. The feeling I get when I’m around him. The way he makes me feel safe and loved.
“You’re so important to me.”
I’m so fucking gone for him. I always have been.
He does his best to make it up to me, though—sending me super sweet texts and having flowers delivered to the rink when I’m working.
Three things… 1. You’re gorgeous. 2. I’m the luckiest man alive. and 3. Thank fuck that live wallpaper is a thing.
My cheeks start to ache as my smile won’t fade. This is why all of the distance right now and all the lonely days I’ve spent whining to Mali about missing him, they’re all worth it. Because of this. Because he still manages to make sure I know that I’m one of the most important people in the world to him.
I move to get up, but Hayes’s arm tightens around my waist as he holds me in place.
“I’m her pipe dream.” I whine playfully. “Oh my God, let it go.” “Absolutely not,” Hayes tells me. “That knowledge does wonderful things for my ego.”
“What are you looking at that shithole for?” Hayes’s head drops and he groans. “Well, that rules out that place.”
“You mean this isn’t a Chuck-E-Cheese? Yes, the surf shop, dipshit.”
I wonder if she would be opposed to replacing every song in my music library with her singing it.
It had been too long since we were able to get lost in each other. And I don’t think there is a single surface in my room that we didn’t take complete advantage of.
“Why do you look like shit?” Laiken covers her mouth with her fist while I pinch my lips together. “Yeah, you don’t want me to answer that.” His face falls, and that bleach idea is probably looking real good to him right now. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
