Page 126 of This is Me

“Why—” Cooper started, but I shook my head.

“Don’t ask.”

“Do you want to see it?” Blaire asked. “It’s pretty.”

“No, no. I’m good.”

“Oh, come on, Pete!” Leroy exclaimed, grabbing my hand again. “I think it’ll really suit you.”

“Ugh, fine.”

Leroy almost squealed as Blaire opened her purse and pulled the sash out, unravelling it onto the table. The golden material gleamed under the light, and the sparkling silver letters danced along with it. Tiny gold and silver tassels ran all around the edges, and I just had one thing to say.

“No.”

“Pete, you said you would!” Leroy whined, and I sighed, letting go of his hand and dragging the sash off the table.

“I’m going to look like such a fucking idiot,” I mumbled, slipping it over my head and having it rest over one shoulder.

“A little bit,” Blaire said with a laugh, and Leroy wrapped his arm around me.

“What do you think?” I asked Leroy, who bit his bottom lip.

“I was wrong.”

“You all suck,” I muttered, pulling the sash off again and putting it on the table, listening to the others laugh.

“Where’s Andy?” Cooper asked when he composed himself.

“If my math is right, he should be almost at the door,” Leroy said, tilting his head as he thought. “He is not very fast. I got away pretty easily.”

“I’m so proud,” I mocked, and Leroy gave me a bright smile, causing my heart to flutter.

I couldn’t help myself from falling further in for him. Everything about him seemed perfect to me. Despite everything that had happened, whenever I looked at him, I couldn’t help but feel like I was going to be okay. That I was safe. I looked into his eyes, and I could feel myself falling into them. Falling into him, and I was okay with that. I wanted to. I had wanted to for the longest time, and now I could, and there wasn’t anything else I needed.

“You peanut butter and jelly sandwich!” Andy’s voice came from behind at the same time I heard The Coffee House’s door open.

“Safe zone!” Leroy quickly called as Andy’s footsteps approached, and I heard him groan.

“Ugh. Why are you freakishly fast?” Andy mumbled, waiting for Blaire and Cooper to shuffle down the seat so he could sit down.

“It’s just talent, Andy,” I chipped in, and both Leroy and I smiled at him.

“It’s just talent, Andy,” Andy repeated in a high-pitched voice before grabbing the sash from off the table. “I’m taking this.”

“Okay,” I said with a shrug, and Andy looked disappointed that it hadn’t had an effect on me.

“So, have you two decided you’re dating yet?” he asked instead, and I sighed, but Leroy squeezed my shoulder.

“What do you say?” Leroy leant in, and I felt his lips trail along my jaw, leaving goose bumps in their wake.

“Is that you asking me?” I questioned, turning my head to see Leroy’s face centimetres from mine.

“It is.”

My heart dropped into vacant space where my stomach usually was, although, at the moment, it felt as though it had hit the ground. Though, no matter how I was feeling, or what my body was doing, I already knew what my answer was going to be.

“In that case, my answer would be yes.”