Unwanted (The Unlucky Ones, #1)

by Marley Valentine

But now he’s here, and just like my addiction, he’s all I can think about. And just like my addiction, I couldn’t afford to relapse with him.

He’s a disheveled mess. A beautiful, heart-rending, disheveled mess.

“I don’t want to talk about you leaving or why you left. Just give me a glimpse,” he says softly. “Let me know it was worth it.”

“Stop being so hard on yourself. You deserve good things, Arlo.” His eyes fall shut and I watch and feel his whole body expand on an inhale. “I don’t want good things,” he whispers into the space between us. “I’ve never wanted good things. I just want you.”

“Feel for as long as you like or need. There is no expiration date on pain, there is only acceptance.”

I was wound tight, and I wanted Frankie to be the one to loosen me up.

“Sometimes,” I choke out. “I still feel that way.” Frankie raises his head, his emotion-filled eyes looking down at me. “So broken,” I tell him. “So, so broken.”

“I love your broken.” He rubs his thumb over my lips and kisses me gently. “I love your wronged.” He kisses me again, this time a little firmer. “And I love your selfish.”

His cheeks glisten in the moonlight, his eyelashes wet from all the tears. His hair splayed around him on the bed, like a halo. He was exquisite, and for the first time in a long time, I knew, wholeheartedly, that he was finally mine.

“I don’t think I wanted to die,” I confess. “But I know I didn’t really care about living either.

“The ability to put your health and sobriety first every day is something you need to be proud of, because without it, we wouldn’t have this.” He kisses our knuckles. “We would still be two men in love and breaking one another’s hearts. Over and over again. But now, we get to live this beautiful life. Together.”