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“Shh, Zoe it’s okay,” I whisper, gently lifting her chin so that her eyes meet mine. “You have nothing to worry about.” I kiss her forehead and pull her head onto my chest. I can’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
“How can you laugh at a time like this?” she cries, confused and, I honestly think, a bit frustrated with how lightly I am taking all of this. She drops her head in anguish and literally begins pounding my chest, although of course, her small fists don’t hurt me at all.
I tenderly take both of her shoulders in my hands and look deep into her eyes, trying to tell her without words that I do care and that I am in fact being serious about this situation. I probably shouldn’t have laughed, but to be honest, I feel happy right now. She genuinely cares for me, and just declared her love. What more could a man want?
“You’re eighteen, sweetheart,” I begin in a calm voice. “You’re legally an adult and old enough to consent. Our relationship and our sex life? It’s all one hundred percent legal. I promise you that no one is going to jail and no one’s life is ruined.”
Zoe looks shocked, and I nod.
“Did you hear your dad say anything specific about the charges?” I ask.
My beautiful girl thinks for a moment, her eyes still teary.
“No, he just said he wanted to report a crime.”
I nod knowingly.
“Yes, but you see, there’s been no crime. The police are going to take his statement, and nothing’s going to happen. I promise you that. What are they going to do? Write me up for nothing? That’s not what they’re paid to do.”
I keep talking to help further calm her down.
“And we can fix things with your parents. I don’t want our relationship to cause any tension for you at home. I love you too Zoe, and I want your parents to approve of our relationship, whatever that may take. It’ll be hard, but we’ll work on it together.”
She begins to speak again, the words barely able to escape her mouth.
“You, you love me?”
“Of course I do.” She’s staring at me wide eyed and paralyzed. “What, you mean to tell me it isn’t obvious?” I say to her in a teasing voice. “And if I’m not mistaken, you just admitted that you love me too.”
Finally, the faintest semblance of a smile begins to take shape on her face, and then she laughs. It’s a full-throated expression of mirth, and I’ve never been so happy to hear it.
“You’re right. I love you, Dane. I’ve loved you for so long, and I never thought that we’d be like this. It was just a little girl’s dream for what felt like forever.”
I pull her close.
“I know you love me, sweetheart, and I can see it in your eyes. Plus, you know, you did say it first,” I say shooting her a playful wink.
“I did, didn’t I?” she responds lightly.
I gently take her chin once again and kiss her.
“But it doesn’t matter who said it first because I love you so much that it’s enough for both of us. Everything is going to be okay, Zoe. Do you believe me?”
“Well…” she starts, taking a moment to think about how she wants to respond to this. “I have no idea how things are going to be okay, but yes. I trust you, Dane.”
That’s enough for me. I stare into those caramel eyes and pledge myself then.
“And no matter what happens, we’re going to be together. No matter what anybody thinks of our relationship. Got it? You belong to me, and I belong to you.”
This time, there’s no hesitation.
“Got it,” she murmurs with a smile, falling into my arms once more. I kiss the top of Zoe’s head and hold her tight, thankful that she’s okay and smiling again. After all, this woman means more than anything or anyone to me, and all I need to be happy is her.
Epilogue
Zoe
Two years later.
It took a long time before things were civil between me and my parents after they called the cops on Dane. I was so angry with them. I lost every ounce of respect and trust I had, and it was difficult to even talk with June and Conrad for a long time after that.
But we tried. After that fateful day, Dane drove me to the house for a long chat. He apologized to June and Conrad for keeping our relationship a secret and told them that he understood why they’d be upset. He explained that he loves me, and only wants the best for me.
But my parents were complete assholes. They shut Dane down and told him it was selfish of him to take advantage of such a young, naïve girl. They acted like I wasn’t even in the room, and that I couldn’t possibly have chosen this man myself. That really angered me. I stormed off to my bedroom and packed as many things as I could into two oversized bags and dragged them down the stairs with me with a huff.
