Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“Look at me.” His words were low. She opened her eyes and did what he asked. “I thought giving you space and time to think was the right thing to do. I fucking hated it though. I was so fucking miserable not talking to you, forcing myself not to even look at you.”
“I hated this time apart too,” she admitted, whispering. “I should have never let rumors or pictures ruin what I knew in my heart—that I trust you. I knew you’d never hurt me. But the shock at seeing them clouded everything, and I just reacted emotionally.”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, and she crashed into the hardness of his chest seconds later, unable to stop herself. She just needed to be close.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am about everything and how I acted. I hate that I let Lindy, the school, and doubt get between us like it did.”
“You never have to apologize to me. I should be the one saying sorry. For everything.”
She shook her head and held him tighter. A second later, he pulled back, and she tipped her head to look in his face.
“I love you, Keira. I love you so fucking much that I can’t breathe at the thought of you not in my life.” He cupped her cheeks and leaned in close so they were eye-level. “I have never been surer of anything in my life than I am that you’re mine.”
Her breath caught at his declaration. His eyes were deep and meaningful, and his words moved through her like a wave of electricity.
He lifted her hand and placed it over his heart. “I now understand what it means to have the world at your fingertips, to know that without the person you love more than anything else in the world, you’re nothing but an empty shell. I now realize the depth of emotion the one person you love creates inside you.”
He pulled her in, kissing her deeply, soundly.
And just like that, in a matter of minutes, all the pain and heartache, all the loneliness and worry, vanished. The world righted itself, and she felt whole once again.
He was right. They were young, and everything had moved at lightning speed, but there was no doubt in her mind or her heart that this was exactly where she was meant to be.
With Reese.
Epilogue
One year later
Twelve months. That’s how much time had passed since everything had gone down, since her and Reese had professed all the deep things they felt for each other… twelve months since things felt perfect.
Keira tightened her hold on the shopping bags and took the stairs up to the small apartment she shared with Reese. The place was only five minutes from Black Mountain University, where she attended, and close enough to family and friends that when she missed them it was easier to make the time.
Once at the top of the landing, she juggled the keys and plastic bags of groceries in her hands as she tried to unlock the front door. A second later, it swung open, and Reese stood on the other side in nothing but a pair of gray sweats.
Here he is, dressing like a slut.
That thought slammed into her head with so much force the air left her lungs.
And what a fine-looking slut he is.
And he’s all mine.
God, arousal licked through her instantly as she let her gaze lower to his crotch. Nothing was left to the imagination. Nothing.
When she trailed her gaze back up and over his chest, she noticed how his skin glistened with sweat. His hair was wet, the dark strands standing on end.
God. So good.
An involuntary sigh left her at the sight, and she clenched her thighs together when he gave her a smirk, one that lifted the corner of his mouth in a very cocky manner that said he knew exactly what she was thinking.
They’d spent the entire summer getting to know each other better, learning the little things about one another… realizing there was actually someone out there made for them.
And it was those little details, the mundane secrets that made up the man she loved, that she yearned for.
He liked rocky road ice cream but didn’t eat the almonds. He liked ketchup but hated tomatoes. Classic rock was his favorite genre of music.
But with happiness there was also that side of uncertainty, and that came from her parents and Alex.
They were wary but supportive of their relationship, so at the end of the day, she was grateful they just wanted her happy.
But even happiness couldn't last forever, and that was once again evident when Reese’s father, Hugo, had been arrested on an outstanding warrant. Prison was inevitable.
With Hugo out of the picture, Reese’s mother was now in a recovery program and getting some much-needed help. In the past year, she’d improved dramatically, but everyone knew she still had a long road ahead of her. And Keira would stay by his side no matter what, be supportive to him as he navigated these times, and let him know that no matter what, she loved him.