“I know, I know, but just hear me out really quick.” Pretty sure, I’m about to make a fool of myself but whatever. It’s too late to stop this runaway train. “Just… ok, fuck it.”
Behind my back, I twist the knob and push the door in, backing over the threshold and reeling him with me. The corner of his lips kicks up. My face is on fucking fire. Oh my god, what if he hates it?
I release his hand and step aside, my mouth already running. “I don’t want you to think it’s out of sympathy or something because of the shit that’s happened— I got it a while back and I was waiting for your birthday to give it to you, but well, everything kind of justexploded and I thought it might cheer you up a little so I told Ma to bring it over…”
Win stares at the gift sitting on the coffee table.
“How… the fuck… did you afford an electric violin?”
I’m a fish out of water. Blushing like mad, I rub the back of my head. “Um, well Ma and dad cover my rent until I graduate and before you judge me, they literally won't let me get a job while I’m in school so I kind of had to do some under-the-table business writing people’s essays for cash.”
He’s still just standing there, gaping.
“If you don’t want it I can—”
A Win-sized projectile slams into me. I catch him— barely— and stumble back as he rains kisses all over my face.
“I love you,” he chants. “I love you, I love you.”
Cascading waves of relief wash over me. I squeeze him tighter. “I expect private concerts daily.”
“All day.” A kiss on my eye. “Every day.” A kiss on my nose. “Even naked.” On my mouth.
I bite his lip. “Naked, eh?”
Chuckling he molds our mouths together for a slow, passionate kiss. When he pulls back with glassy eyes and a smile overtaking his face, I’m overwhelmed with emotion.
He’s more beautiful than ever.
“Can I ask you something?” I murmur. “You can say no, but—”
“Ask me.”
My heart races. I’m sixteen again, on the beach in winter, the ocean spray stinging my cheeks.
“Will you… move in with me?”
Shock widens his eyes. But now I recognize the awe and disbelief shimmering in his gaze.
“Are you serious?” It’s barely a breath.
I nod.
He swallows. Blinks.
Then attacks my mouth again.
With a laugh, I kiss him back. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s a,Fuck Yes.”
I’d lost hope that I’d ever have this. That I’d havehim. But here we are on the other side.Because loveisn’ta snowball: Life is. It starts out small and simple, gaining depth and swallowing painful truths as it rolls through a cold world.
But love? Love is the sun thawing the ice, layer by layer to reveal the hope beneath.
A high-pitched meow.
We glance at my cat who sits on top of the giant wicker tote overflowing with goodies Ma left on the coffee table beside the electric violin.
