No Prince

by Stevie J. Cole

“You know how this shit works. We’re just surviving, right?”

“I’m gonna go to jail for something, Roe. Might as well be you.” And then he moved away, walking out of the room.

“Who doesn’t drink milkshakes? You really are a psychopath.” “And you really are hot.”

each other.” I tapped the book in her hands. “It’s not pretty.” “The truth never is. Anything pretty is always a lie.”

Monroe James wasn’t at all what I had thought she was—what anyone thought she was. And she was so much better than I deserved.

“You once said I was broken. But you’re only really broken when you lose hope.” Which

I touched his cheek. “You make me happy.” The words felt like a

confession, though they were simple fact.

There was no doubt anymore that I loved him, and love had made me weak. But more than that, it made everything else seem unimportant.

“I love her and that’s the beginning and end of everything.”

“I could never love anyone else, Roe. You’re it for me.” And he was it for me. Because no one had ever loved me like he did. And I wasn’t sure I could live without it.

“All I wanted was your love, Zepp!”

“And that’s something you’ll always have.”

“I don’t...” His brows pinched together, nostrils flaring. “I don’t want you to come back.” “You—" “I’m taking you off the visitor’s list.” He might as well have thrust his hand into my chest and pulled out my heart because this felt so final, and I knew it was. I fought tears as I pushed to my feet, knowing there was nothing I could say. He looked out the window, his jaw slowly ticcing. “I’ll never love anybody the way I love you, Roe. That I promise.” “I love you.”

“I just drove like eighty miles. And I really need to see her. I haven’t seen this girl in almost a year. I went to jail for her—” Her eyes went wide. “You went to jail for her?” “Yeah. I just got out, and I saw her in our hometown last week with another guy.” I let a frown settle over my face. The girl didn’t need to know the guy wasn’t a threat. “And I can’t lose her. I just really need to tell her I’m still in love with her.”

her. “I meant it when I told you I would never love anyone the way I loved you. Because I won’t love anyone but you.”

“Please, don’t hate me. I can’t take that.” “I can’t stop loving you.” Her voice broke on a soft sob while her fingers wrapped around my wrists. “I tried. So hard.”

“I never thought three months would turn into the rest of my life, but…” “Oh my God, Zepp.” I stared at the box, completely shocked. “You gonna marry me, Roe?” “Yes, Zepp. I’ll marry you.” I kissed him, knowing there would never be anyone else for me but him. No one could come close. Our happily ever after wasn’t shiny or pretty, but it was ours.

was no prince, but Zepp Hunt was mine. Always.