When Gracie Met The Grump

by Mariana Zapata

“I swear to God, Alex, if you break my heart, I’ll find a way to break your back worse than your grandma did.” His laugh healed something in me that I didn’t know I was missing, I guess, and he was still laughing as he said, “Best friends don’t break their best friend’s hearts.” Oh, this son of a bitch and his fucking words. His words…. Then he smiled at me, and I knew exactly what it was like to finally look forward to the future. I turned on him, not waiting for an invitation, and swung around on his lap. Alex’s hands went to my thighs, and he pulled me straight into his body as my legs wrapped around him. With a hand on each side of his head, I leaned forward and brushed my mouth against his.

“I don’t think my grandmother would be cruel enough to find us a partner and have us lose them so soon. My healing will help us age together. You’ll live as long as I do.