Page 133

“Yeah.” I shrug. “What you and I have is different.”

That seems to catch him off guard. “I just didn’t want you thinking⁠—”

“I don’t. About Taylor, or anyone else.” I glance around the house, at the family moving easily through each other’s space. “If anything, it kind of explains a lot.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. It's not like you didn't come out because you were scared.” I meet his eyes again. “You just hadn’t figured it out yet.”

His mouth curves into a small, shaky smile. “That sounds way better than how it felt.”

“Most things do in hindsight.”

He reaches for my hand again, squeezing my fingers tightly. “You still okay being here?”

“I’m okay being with you.”

The tension finally drains from his shoulders as he places a chaste kiss on my lips. “Good. Because I’m not letting you escape this time.”

“Bold of you to assume I want to,” I whisper, and I mean it.

Christian grins easily, tugging me toward the living room, where his family is already calling for us.

And as I follow him, for the first time in my life, it feels like the happiness enveloping me is one that I deserve to have.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Christian

Snow falls softly on the drive home.

Devon’s half-asleep in the passenger seat with his head resting against the window. Streetlights slide past occasionally, illuminating his face just long enough for me to register the soft smile tugging at his mouth. Doubt by Twenty One Pilots fills the space between us.

Christmas Eve went… way better than I expected.

We played board games with my family, ate too many cookies, and opened gifts at midnight. My siblings pooled their money together and got me a camera I can strap to my helmet for stunts. Mom got me leather riding gloves, and my tío gifted me a brand new tool set.

I gave everyone the Twins of Terror calendar that Salem made, which had them teasing me about it, but they seemed to love it all the same.

The best present of the night, though, was having Dev there by my side. He received no gifts, mainly because nobody expected him to be there, but it hadn't seemed to bother him. The entire night, he stayed pressed against me, whispering those words in my ear that I never dreamed I'd hear him say. Words I didn't know I'd ever feel toward him.

I love you.

My grip on the steering wheel tightens for a second, heart still buzzing from the first time he said it to me just hours ago.

The apartment comes into view, and I pull into the driveway slowly before cutting the engine. Devon's still passed out, so I just lean back to look at him, feeling my throat swell. No one could have told me a year ago that we'd end up here.

I went from hating him, to obsessing over him, then to loving him in the span of three short months. Seems quick, but I suppose our story started three years ago when Taylor brought him over for the Fourth of July. It just took us a long time to get here.

“Hey,” Dev rasps suddenly, blinking awake. “We home?”

“Yeah. Just watching you sleep.”

He squints at me. “That’s fucking creepy.”

I smile to myself and get out of the car to open his door. “I need to show you something.”

“At two in the morning?”