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“So grumpy,” I mock, my lips turning up in a smirk as I bump my nose against his.
I sit back on my heels as I begin to carefully tear into the package. The starry wrapping paper is so beautiful that I almost want to save it as a keepsake.
Once the paper is removed, a wide grin stretches across my face as I stare at the special edition Grouplove record resting between my hands. I finally purchased a record player a few months ago, and I’ve been dying to add more records to my collection.
But this is so much more to me than just another record on my shelf.It’s everything.The attention to detail, the starry night wrapping paper, a record by our favorite band… it’s seriously the sweetest, most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me.
“Rett,” I exhale, holding his sapphire stare. He watches me like a proud parent on Christmas morning as I clutch the record to my chest. “I love it, baby.”
“There’s one more thing,” he rasps, nodding his head toward the record. “Open it up.”
I stare back at him through furrowed brows before pulling the record from the square case. I gasp when a photograph falls from the disc, floating to the bed like a feather.
I pluck the photo from the bed, lifting it to my eyes as my heart fucking explodes right out of my chest. My eyes gloss over as I realize the picture is almost four years old, but the memory feels like yesterday.
I’ve tried so many times to relive this moment… to remember every detail. Memories are nothing but fleeting moments in time, but a photograph is forever. A token of our lives. I’ll no longer have the fear of forgetting that night because I have this. When I’m old and gray and losing my memory, I’ll have this.
Everett and I are standing on the cruise ship karaoke stage, singing our hearts out to Grouplove. He’s staring down at me like I placed the stars in the sky, and I’m staring up at him like he hung the moon. A large porthole window reveals the dark ocean as moonlight glints against the waves. The crowd has their hands lifted in the air as they clap, sing, and cheer us on.
Tears blur my vision as I stare down at a younger, more naive version of us. Two star-crossed lovers who had no idea what the future had in store for us. Two fallen stars who had no idea that after years of being galaxies apart, it was all going to work out.It was always going to be us.
“Everett,” I exhale as hot tears stream down my cheeks. “How did… how did you get this?”
He cups my face in his hands, kissing away my tears. He kisses my cheeks, jaw, nose, and finally my lips before pulling back to stare at me with so much love.
“It was our last day on the ship,” he rasps. “Obviously, you and I weren’t talking anymore at that point, so I spent the morning walking around. When I stopped by the photo gallery, I was curious if there were any prints of my family. I had to take a second look when I came across the photo in the karaoke bar. When I realized it was us, my heart fucking stopped. What were the odds that a ship photographer took our photo at that exact moment,” he pauses, shaking his head like he still can’t believe it. “I couldn't leave without buying it. I’ve held on to it ever since.”
My gaze tracks his full lips as I hang onto every word.
“There were so many nights when I wanted to rip it, or burn it, or toss it in the trash, but I never could bring myself to get rid of it. Even on my darkest nights, I couldn't let it go. I couldn't letyougo,” he croaks.
I couldn’t let you go.
Me either, Rett. Me either.
“Thank you,” I whisper, pushing back the damp hair flopping against his forehead. “This is… this is the best gift you could have ever given me. Thank you for keeping it all this time. And thank you for never giving up on me.”
“Never, baby,” he croaks. “I’ll never give up on you.”
“I love you,” I mutter before crashing my mouth to his. Our lips never part as I gather the record and photograph in one hand before gently transferring the gifts to the nightstand. Once the bed is clear, I frantically reach for the hem of Everett’s boxers. I tug down the elastic band until his aching dick springs free, bobbing heavily against his belly.
Neither of us wastes a second as I lift my hips while Everett wraps a hand around his cock to position his tip at my entrance. We both groan as I sink down on his length, taking all of him in one quick thrust. We hold each other’s stare like a promise as blue fire burns between our eyes.
Everett’s hands clutch the soft skin of my hips as I tangle my fingers through his messy hair that I love so much. We’re chest to chest, our hearts beating in tandem as we kiss, claw, and pant against each other’s mouths. We’re already in need of another shower as our sweaty bodies rut against each other like it’s the first time. It’s frantic, messy, loud, all-consuming… everything.He’s everything.
We both still at the same time, our bodies finding a slower rhythm as we let go and fire ignites between us. A flame that never burned out, even when it was just a crackling ember. Just like the night sky, it never stopped glowing.Always shining just for us.
“Sky…” he rasps, pressing his sweaty forehead to mine. He opens and closes his mouth, like it’s impossible to find words for the depth of emotion he’s feeling.
“I know,” I whisper against his lips. “I know.”
I love you too.
It was always you.
My home.
My inevitable force.
THE END
