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I chose to be your friend but falling in love with you was
Israel Holloway stole my breath away the first time we’d met and continued to for the last twenty years.
One day the look in her eyes transformed and with bated breath, I’ve waited patiently for her to allow me to love her the way she deserves, the way only I can.
Amelia might not have been ready to admit what was happening between us, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I allow another man to win her over. I’ll run down on a nigga like I’m that twenty-year-old kid back in Compton before I ever let that happen.
Oop okayyyyy, Mr. Protective
Little did Amelia know; I’d bought Buster just for that—to protect her.
Buster was the perfect guard dog for the love of my life, and until she gave in to what she was feeling for me, I felt confident in his ability to keep her neighbor in his place.
“Sometimes I can’t even comprehend how much I love her, how in love I am with her,” I admitted.
Her lips lifted into the most beautiful smile she could muster up, and I couldn’t help but mirror that. Damn, she was everything.
“On most days when we’re apart, I miss you,” he confessed, licking his lips. “I was driving home but somehow ended up here instead.”
Amelia, you are one of a kind. Being your friend has brought me more joy than I’ll ever be able to comprehend, let alone explain with actual words. I know you feel what’s happening between us.
I’m proposing that you allow me to take you on a date. Give me… give us the chance to work through our fears together. That’s my question that needs answering. So, what do you say, Meli? Can I take you out? P.S. The only way this can happen is if you answer me through your blog. In front of your readers. Give them something to look forward to, give me something to look forward to.
“I’m proposing that you smile a little more. Life ain’t so bad when you smile through the pain.”
“Because your soulmate has been in your life since you were eleven.”
“With the right person, love can be a beautiful thing,” he said, staring me directly in the eyes. “And when you find that person, you fight for them until you can’t anymore.”
“Wherever you are is home to me, Amelia,”
“It’s darker than I thought,” she whispered, her hand landing on my forearm. “This is crazy.” “It’s exactly what we need,” I told her. “We see each other almost every day, and right now, what’s happening between us can be a little nerve-racking.” “So, just feel, huh?” “Yeah...” I placed my hand on top of hers. “That’s all I want, is for us to feel this thing out.”
My eyes weren’t on the sights. Amelia was way more beautiful than any of the things spanning around us.
“Don’t let her fool y’all. We’ll be getting married soon.”
And when our lips met, I was done for.
this was Amelia. She wasn’t just anyone to me; she was everything.
“Whatever you do, don’t push me away if your fears get to be too much to handle.”
Powell’s City of Books was the world’s largest independent bookstore and Amelia’s dream place to walk through for as many hours as her legs would allow. She’d had plenty of opportunities to make this trip happen on her own or even with friends but chose to wait it out for when we could do it together.
“I want you to experience the smell of a vintage bookstore,” she would say. “Going with you is the only way I’ll do it.”
“For just being you, I guess.” She pulled back and rested her head on my arm. “For never giving up on me or leaving me behind. You mean so much to me, Israel. I’ll never be able to verbally explain how much, but I hope that my actions make up for it.”
In fact, I would follow you to the ends of the earth and back if that meant having you in my life forever.” “Forever is a long time, Holloway.” “Nah.” I shook my head. “Forever ain’t nowhere near enough time, Reinhardt.”
“People who are depressed are the greatest of actors, Meli. They know how to make everyone believe that they’re okay.
“I told you back in Portland that I would follow you to the ends of the earth and back, and I can tell you right now that if you start to fall, I’m jumping in that dark hole and pulling you out. I’ll nurse you back to health, shower you with all the love and affection I have inside of me until you see reason.” “If…” “There is no fucking if…”
“Your light is too bright for me to watch it dim and not do everything in my power to see you shine again.”
“I want this to be a forever thing. You as my friend, my girl, my wife, the mother of my children one day...”
He was slutting me the fuck out, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
“Wine him,” Sawyer said, smiling. “Dine him,” Kelena added, grinning like a fool. “And then slut that man out at the end of the night,” they said at the same time before bursting into laughter.
One thing about Israel is that he didn’t play about his hygiene or his skin.
Oof please i want one of these
Kelena was important to Amelia, and Amelia was important to me. When it came down to it, I would do anything for that woman. Moreover, I actually cared enough about KK to want to do this for her too.
Such a good one😩
“Smile, baby.” My face split into a big grin, and he snapped a few photos before putting his phone away.
“Never stop smiling like that.” “Never stop making me smile like that,”
“I want more for us.” “And I want everything for us,” she said in return. “Love, marriage, children. I want those things with you.” “I love you, Amelia,” I confessed. “I’m in love with you, and I have been since the moment I saw your freckled face.”
“Dear Amelia,” he murmured, gaze searching mine. “I see you. I hear you. I appreciate you.” He brought his head forward and kissed my shoulder, grazing his lips along the length of it until he reached my ear. “One day, I’m going to marry you. I fucking love you.”
“To my eleven-year-old self,” I murmured, turning toward my laptop. “We got the girl and life is fucking great.”
