On the Same Page

by Haley Cass

“Any parting words?” Gianna asked, bracing herself against the counter. Ellie’s face screwed up in thought. “Uh… if you break her heart, I know thousands of chemical compounds that are lethal to human beings, several of which are untraceable.”

“That night was the first time I realized I felt something for you more than friendship.” And it scared her. Terrified her. Rocked her to her fucking core.

But I wanted to take everything you were willing to give me, as soon as you become a possibility.”

You wanted me.” The raw truth of those words still felt unbelievable to her sometimes. She would never forget that moment. The moment in Riley’s apartment, when Riley’s desire for her was apparent. The shock that had melted so quickly into need. A need that was far beyond Gianna’s control had taken the reins.

“Who could think straight, when the only person they’ve ever really wanted, finally wants them back? Who could say no?” Maybe there was a person out there, but they were a far stronger person than Gianna was.

“I want… everything. I want to be with you, at the end of every day, and hear all about work and Joel and Ellie and the weird guy who clicks his tongue who works in the coffee shop next to the station. I want to wake up with you and feel understood and loved without having to say a word. I want to get married,” the word escaped her, unbidden, and she found herself laughing at it, as Riley’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Small ceremony or big or anything in between; I don’t really care. I want everyone to know we’re together. I want to see every little line on your face appear while we get older. I want you to talk me out of botox. And I want kids. I do. If they’re ours, I want a whole herd. I’ll carry them, because I know you don’t want to be pregnant. Ideally, I’d probably want to use your egg, because I think the idea of having twins sounds incredible. I want – everything,” she repeated, drawing in a breath.

Riley didn’t hug her tighter at that, instead, she pulled back, and stared up at Gianna’s face, baffled. “We’re never ending,” she swore, a promise ringing through her words. Gianna wrapped herself up in that promise. “Never ending,” she repeated. Present day “You and I… we’re never ending,” Gianna murmured, under her breath, imperceptible to the dozens of people watching them. Riley’s eyes glinted back brightly into hers. “Never ending,” she confirmed, as she slid the ring onto Gianna’s finger.