Page 55 of If You Say So

Beaming my way, he says, “Hey.”

“Hey.”

He takes a few steps closer, nonchalant about the whole thing. When he gets about two feet from me, he stops and shoves his hands into his pockets.

He doesn’t speak.

Neither do I.

Instead, I close the distance between us. I reach out and pull him snug against me. A grin lines his lips as I lean in and press a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“One,” I whisper.

I place another in the opposite corner.

“Two.”

And finally, I lay my lips against his, relishing the sharp inhale he takes before meeting my kiss with equal passion.

The kiss is soft and hard and fast and slow all at once. His hands grip my waist, bringing me closer as I slide my fingers into his auburn locks and hold him tightly against me, our mouths working overtime.

We kiss for forever…or for a few minutes. Either way, I don’t want it to stop, but breathing is a necessity.

I pull back, my lips gliding over his in the softest of touches.

“Three,” I murmur.

I can feel his smile against my mouth and return it with one of my own.

“I’ve missed you,” he says.

“I’m ready,” I answer.

He swallows, the sound thunderous in the otherwise quiet space. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more certain in my entire life, Nate.”

“I just really want you to be sure. The intention of my notes wasn’t to pressure you or anything. I want you to do—”

“Do this for me—I know, and I am. I promise you that.”

“And what about…” I can feel him shaking in my grip, and I want to wipe away his worry. “What about New Year’s? Our break? What happens with that?”

“We move on and grow, become stronger than we’ve ever been. We communicate, because no matter what, we’re friends too. We need to have that bond, that bridge. We need to have us while being anus.” I press my forehead to his and close my eyes. “I’m probably going to be a pain in the ass half the time. I’ll need space and time and will have some lows I’ll need to work through. I’ll need to be reminded that while Ihavedepression, it doesn’t define me. It doesn’t make me.”

“And I’ll be there to remind you that you’re not alone. No matter how hard you try to push me away, I’m not going anywhere. I see you for more than your mental illness. I see you for you, and I see you as worthy.”

The tears that have been threatening to fall finally find their way down my cheeks. I don’t bother to wipe them away, don’t bother to hide them.

“It’s going to be hard—probably the hardest fucking thing we’ve ever done.”

“But, we’re worth it,” he promises. “I know we are.”

“I’m ready to work for it if you are.”

“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life, Blake.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” I give him a quick peck on the lips. “I love you, you know.”

I feel his lips turn upward as he whispers, “If you say so.”

THE END