Wild Card

by Elsie Silver

His gaze is appreciative, and I revel in it.

“Oh, tonight? Tonight is just our meet-cute. It’s the night we’ll tell our kids about one day. Remember?”

I know is that the first thing that comes to mind is, If I live, I’m coming after you.

“Or what? You might man up and take something for yourself for once?” I snap. I take something for myself for once. My hands dart out and grip Gwen’s waist. “You know what?” I snarl, yanking her toward me, staring at her plush mouth as her lips softly part—no doubt to say something infuriating. But I don’t let her get a word in edgewise. “Fuck it,” I mutter. Then I kiss her.

Then let’s be damned together is what I want to say.

All the best things in life are complicated.”

nothing worth having ever comes easy.”

It might not be forever, but I’ll settle for right now.

“You’re a fucking wild card. Unpredictable and never what I expect. You scare the hell out of me every damn day. But today more than any of them. Because I thought I lost you.” His voice cracks. So does my heart. “And I love you, and I hadn’t even gotten the chance to tell you.” My heart thuds and my tears finally fall. He loves me.

can’t breathe without you.

“You’re my limes, Bash. I’m the tequila. You and me? We’re gonna spend the rest of our lives making margaritas, okay?”