Page 44 of Brighter Together

Just certainty.

My chest tightens for a completely different reason.

I look down at my glass.

“I’ve never really had that.”

The words slip out before I decide whether I want to say them.

Tommy is quiet beside me.

I immediately wish I could pull them back.

“That sounded depressing,” I try to laugh it off.

“It sounded honest,” he says quietly.

I glance at him.

His thumb brushes once against the back of my shoulder.

Barely there.

Still enough to make my pulse jump.

“Judging by tonight,” he says, “I think they’ve decided you’re one of us now.”

I smile. “That was fast.”

“We don’t fuck around.”

I laugh quietly.

Then the worry from earlier creeps in.

“Are you okay with that?”

His eyes meet mine.

The room suddenly feels louder around us.

Or maybe quieter.

I can’t tell.

“Absolutely.”

One word.

But the way he says it makes warmth spread all the way through me.

Then Nick leans towards Tommy.

“You coming climbing Sunday?”

The moment breaks and Tommy turns towards him.

I take a sip of Prosecco and try to remember how breathing works.