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“One day, some girl is gonna walk into your life and flip your whole world upside down and you’re not gonna know what the fuck to do with yourself except drop to your knees and beg her to never leave.”
“Back off.” Carter huffs, tugging me away. “She’s my date.” Um. “This is not a date.” “Pretty sure it’s a date, Ollie.” I cross my arms. “Pretty sure you have to ask someone on a date, Carter.” “Eh, whatever. Ask, drag; it’s all the same.”
I genuinely care about her and want to spend time with her, but I would also throw myself at her feet if it meant she’d let me destroy her body, because I want to absolutely wreck her. I mean that in the most respectful way possible, of course.
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Never, Ollie. I just want you to consider… consider giving me a shot. Consider me. That’s all I want, Ol. A chance with you.”
“Is it forever?” I ask as she slips her arms into her coat. “Good-bye?”
Her wide eyes lock on mine, cheeks blazing, hand hanging there in midair, holding on to a… A goddamn Oreo. Woman’s my fucking soul mate.
Me? I’m totally in control. I’ve got this. I’m not goofy Carter tonight. I’m wearing an impenetrable mask she won’t be able to… penetrate? Fuck. I dunno. Now all I’m thinking about is penetration. Totally in control.
“I’m all in, as long as it’s you I’m all in with.” My lips meet hers with a gentle, sweeping kiss, brushing her hair behind her ear when we part. “Are you still scared?” “Yes.” “What are you most afraid of?” “Falling,” she answers quietly and without hesitation. “I’ll catch you.”
Right. My eighty-three-year-old best friend and my… Olivia… might have started an impromptu book club today. They’re starting with some book called Follow Me Darkly or something. I have no desire to get tangled up in that, except apparently blindfolds are involved, so, like, maybe.
She tips her head back, wide gaze locking on mine as silence hangs between us. Then she laughs in my face. “You do not call your dick your sword of thunder.”
Right?! Tell him girl! What kind of dick name is that omg
“I only have room for one goofy, demanding, arrogant man in my life.” I run a palm down my proud chest. “And it’s me?” “It’s you, Mr. Beckett.” I whoop my fist through the air. “Undefeated, baby!”
Her tired giggle is a slow song I want to dance to forever, restarting my heart.
“What if I fall in love with you?” “Then I’ll fall with you, too, Ollie girl.”
I think he’s asleep when I’m ready to leave a half hour later, so I don’t bother saying good-bye. That’s a mistake; he screams my name from bed when I open the front door. I lean against the bedroom door. “You rang, sir?” He reaches up, curling his fingers into his palms. “Need a hug and a kiss.” Oh my God, he’s adorable.
Please, let me in. Let me see you. Let me have you. All of you.” “I don’t want to hide anymore,” she whispers. “I’m tired.” “If you want obsession, fierce appreciation, wild, unrestrained passion… If you want fucking magic, Ollie, then it’s me. Let it be me.” The soft brush of our lips sends a thrill down my spine. “Let’s be scared together.”
“It’s never, ever been like this before,” Olivia whispers, trembling fingers gripping mine tightly. “I don’t know why it’s so different with you, Carter.” I know why. Pretty sure she does too. It’s part of what scares us both, I think. Forever is a long time. Instead, I press my mouth to her ear and tell her, “You’re my favorite kind of different.”
Is this what it feels like? Wanting to share all your pieces, the good ones and the not-so-good ones? Wanting to take her hand in yours and hold tight as you take each step forward? Steps into the unknown, the dark and the light, where we tackle fears together and come out stronger each time.
“My mom always told me that these things don’t come easily, that you have to work for the love and the life you want. The hard parts are challenging, but we get through them, and everything else with you feels natural, and I… I want to work with you. I want to build a life we love.”
“If I had to choose between you and Oreos for the rest of my life, I’d choose you every day, always.”
“Fuck me,” Carter wheezes as he pulls me into his chest. “I one thousand percent love you more than Oreos.”
“I’m gonna love you the way you deserve to be loved every single day for the rest of your life and my life. I promise.”
“And then I’m gonna marry the fuck out of you in front of our family and friends, and you’ll be Mrs. Beckett, and I’ll fuck you so hard that night you’ll feel it in your throat for the rest of your life.”
“They say there comes a time in everybody’s life when you meet your soul mate, the person who will love and cherish you for the rest of your life, hold you close and never let you go.” The women in the crowd all aww and Emmett grins at Cara. “For Cara, that day happened at seventeen when she met me.” Emmett’s jaw drops and Cara smacks the table, hollering, “Hell yeah it did, baby!”
