The Best Kind of Forever (Riverside Reapers #1)

by Celeste Briars

I kneel down in front of her, resting my hands on her waist. “What do you see when you look at yourself?” “What do I see?” I look up at her, watching as curiosity eclipses her expression. “What do you see?” “I see someone who is deeply flawed,” she breathes, and in that one single breath is all the pain she’s ever experienced in her life. She’s quiet for a beat, but then her lips start to move. “My stretch marks are hideous,” she says, shuffling her feet a little, still holding her arms against her torso. I run my hand over her thighs, noting the raised texture of the scars, letting my finger stray over each individual branch of lightning. My lips travel over the marks, and I press a cluster of kisses against her flawless skin. “Your stretch marks are beautiful. Everyone has them in different areas of their body, and you wear yours like battle armor. Scars are reminders of what we’ve endured, but also reminders of what we’ve overcome.” “They’re still so raw and red. They stand out.” “They don’t stand out, Aeris. You stand out. Everything about you is captivating. You have this effect on people that I can’t explain. You light up every room you walk into. It’s like every emotion you feel projects off you. When you’re happy, it’s contagious. And when you’re sad, I feel it in my own heart. So when people look at you, they aren’t judging you, okay? They’re envious.”