AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I paused. “She’s what?”
He started laughing as my hands flew to my mouth. I shot out of my chair and threw myself at him, wrapping him up in the biggest hug imaginable. I kissed his face. His neck. His shoulder. Tears rushed my eyes and I swallowed them down.
“She really asked you to go with her?”
He nodded against the crook of my neck. “She really did.”
“Oh, Clint. I’m so fucking happy for you.”
I felt him sniffle and it broke my heart. I slid into his lap as he wrapped his arms around me. I stroked my hand through his hair, which seemed to be growing longer by the second. I was so overwhelmed with happiness. With relief. I almost couldn't contain myself as I blinked back batches of tears.
I kissed his ear. “I’m so happy for you.”
“She really asked me to go with her, Rae. Like, legitimately.”
I rested against him as he held me close and shook underneath me. I was so thankful for Cecilia. Thankful that the two of them had grown so close over these past few weeks. Clint needed a fucking adult in his life that gave a shit about him. Who genuinely wanted him around. I knew how worthless he felt on a day-to-day basis. How pointless and unloved he felt by the adults around him. His father. The teachers at school. The principal, for crying out loud. He deserved Cecilia’s love, and so much more.
“When do you guys move?”
He lifted his head. “I don’t know. We’re going to look at the place tomorrow after school. I guess we’ll sign the lease there if we like it well enough.”
“And you say it’s not far from here?”
“Nope. I’ll still be able to finish out my senior year here. Though I’ll have to ride the bus or something.”
I snickered. “That’s crazy talk. I’m sure Allison and Michael and I can start picking you up or something. I’ll talk to them about it.”
“I don’t want you guys to go out of your—”
I cupped my hand over his mouth. “We’re your friends. We love you. Hush.”
He furrowed his brow. “You… you love me?”
I nodded. “We all do.”
And as his eyes searched mine, I felt my heart stop in my chest.
“Well, I love you guys, too.”
I grinned. “All of us?”
He captured my lips in his before he slid me to my feet. His hands held my hips as our lips sat languidly together. A soft, genuine kiss. One that preached our truth even though we still couldn't say it.
Though, I hoped one day I’d build up the courage to tell him how much I loved him.
He patted the back of my thigh, then I went to sit back down. He kept grinning at me as I ate my sandwich, sipped my coffee and crunched on my chips. His feet slid against mine underneath the table where we sat. And I felt like one of those girls in the movies Mom always watched.
I finally understood how they felt.
“So, how’s your weekend been?”
I sighed. “Pretty good, considering.”
“Considering…?”
I shrugged. “I mean, things with Mom have been… interesting.”
“Interesting, how?”
