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Gemma is the only soul that’s ever sung in complete harmony with mine. I love her.
Thirty-Five
Gemma
The perilous patter of my heart gradually slows the tighter Lucas holds me.
Lucas soothes all the pain wrecking my heart and mind. His mouth moves soft and slow.
Everything falls away as we kiss.
We part on a breath, his forehead pressed to mine. His thumbs swipe over my cheeks in a light brush.
“Lucas,” I whisper.
“I care about you so much it scares me.” His confession isn’t complete. He has more to pour out. “Tell me what you need. If you want me to get up in front of the whole school and tell the truth, I will.”
A soggy chuckle leaves me.
“I?
?m serious.” Lucas rests his lips on my forehead. “I’ll explain that nothing happened with Marissa. I’ve only been with you since September.” He pulls back to meet my eyes with a serious look. “That video is old. From when we dated.”
“I’m sorry, too.” I blow out a breath and tuck my hands around his waist, burrowing into his body for warmth. One of his arms wraps around me and it feels right. “I was so dead set on believing what I thought of you in my head that I jumped to conclusions. It was easier, because it gave me an excuse to go back to where I was comfortable.”
A sad look crosses his face.
“I know. It’s a downer, but my life has been easier to deal with when I stay on the outside. Like photography. My pride makes me push people away. It was the only way I knew how to safeguard myself. If I believed the worst, I could go back to being on the outside by myself, where nothing could hurt me.”
“I don’t want anything to hurt you again.”
Lucas gives me a kiss that’s over too quickly.
“That’s improbable. What are you going to do, follow me around for the rest of my life and encase me in bubble wrap? Punch everything that ever crosses me?”
“I want to try. I only want to make things right. If that means you never want to speak to me again, well,” Lucas frowns, but forges on, “I’ll understand. I’ll make it happen. And no one will bother you or mess with you ever again.”
I tilt my head to the side, studying his contrite expression. I see the real Lucas—my Lucas. Not the fake one that pretends for the school, hiding himself from all of them.
“And if I want you to mess with me? I kind of like fighting with you.”
Lucas blinks, then relaxes. His expression shifts into a mix of relief and happiness.
“I like fighting with you, too, sweetheart.”
“It’s pretty fun.”
Lucas releases a breath. “Gemma.”
The lightning silhouettes the trees overhead and for a second the brightness makes him look like his namesake, an otherworldly saint. His gaze is intent.
“The only girl for me is you. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”
“Oh.”
Hearing him say it like that makes my pulse stutter and my stomach swoop. My unruly heart runs laps.
“You’re in my veins. You course through me, give me life.” He brings his face close to mine, the warmth of his breath fluttering over my mouth. “You’re the first person I told about architecture. I want you to be the first person I tell all of my dreams and fears to.”
