Unsteady

by Peyton Corinne

“You have no idea how many times I’ve imagined you in that shirt.”

Te amo

My boyfriend is smiling, his eyes dark. “Look at her again, see what happens.”

She’s perfect.

I’m completely in love with her.

Hell yeah

“I love you,” I mouth, pressing the words into the skin of her forehead, hoping that somehow, she hears them. Somehow, she knows.

Another reason I’m planning to never let these kids out of my sight again. I’d marry Sadie tomorrow if it meant it got them out of this damn house.

“I don’t know what I’m going to have to do to prove to you and Oliver that I’m not leaving—and honestly, I don’t care what it is, I’ll do it.”

“I love you. I love everything about you. I love your anger and your snark. I love the way you skate—like you’re full of fire. It makes me remember when I fell in love with hockey. I love how you take care of your brothers, how you protect and love Ro. I love the way you get that frustrated-confused look on your face—the same one you have right now—with the little divot between your brows.”

“You don’t need to say anything right now, okay? I can love you enough for the both of us.”

“You’re so goddamn perfect, Gray.” He smiles. “And I’m so fucking lucky.”

Oliver hates being touched, and yet he’s wrapped completely in Rhys’s arms.

“I love all of you.” Liam giggles. “I love you too, Rhys.” I unlock the doors and Oliver waits a bit before getting half out of the car. He turns back to me, because he’s on my side of the car, and nods. “Love you.”

Para no puedo mas

“I’m so proud of you,” I whisper. “I know it takes a lot for you to ask for help. But I’m so proud.”

It doesn’t matter how much distance there is between us right now; as long as she’ll have me, I’ll be right here. Waiting and cheering from the bleachers, if that’s what she needs.

Someone grabs Kelley from behind, yanking him off me and slamming one fist into his face. My coach goes down, out cold. Toren Kane.

Te odio y amo al mismo tiempo

“You are worth it. And if I have to fight the little demons in your mind that convince you otherwise every day for the rest of our lives? I’ll happily do it. Do you understand?”

Sadie Brown will always be the only thing I want to look at, shining and blazing like fire on ice. She’s always been beautiful, but I think my attraction to her grows with every day.

For Liam, he’s the first male role model he ever had; the first adult man to take care of him. To say I love you to him.

Now, I can watch them flourish and know that when I sleep at night, they’re happy. That I did it. I got them out.

“Marry me,” he says with pink cheeks and a little tremor in his hand. He’s nervous.

“Yes, hotshot,” I say into his skin, like telling a secret. “Forever, yes.” He shouts, “She said yes!” at the top of his lungs before hoisting me into the air with a yelp.