Total pages in book: 185
Estimated words: 191421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 957(@200wpm)___ 766(@250wpm)___ 638(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 191421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 957(@200wpm)___ 766(@250wpm)___ 638(@300wpm)
“Okay.”
“Because I want that connection with you,” I tell him, breathless. “I want all the connections with you. I want to be so connected to you that no one, not even you, could ever tear us apart. Because you did that. You tore us apart. So many times, Reign. For so many years.”
Finally, he brings his hands up and frames my face. “I won’t. I promise.”
So I stand there like that, staring into his eyes, barely breathing, barely holding it together.
Barely being able to comprehend that this is real.
That he really loves me.
No, he doesn’t actually.
He feels more for me than the word ‘love’ could ever explain or describe.
“You know, you don’t need to do all those things for me,” I tell him next. “Everything that you just said. I don’t need them from you.”
“I know.” His lips tip up in a small lopsided smile. “But I’ll give them to you anyway.”
I bite my lip. “What color is it? My dress.”
He keeps staring into my eyes. “Fuchsia.”
I shake my head. “I can’t believe you know that.”
“Couldn’t sleep that night. So that’s what I did. Counted pinks.”
I clench my eyes shut. “God, Reign.”
He comes closer too.
Until we’re grazing against each other.
“So will you,” he asks, “be my girlfriend?”
I open my eyes and whisper, “Yes.”
It’s a simple word.
After all the beautiful and heartfelt words that he’s said. After how he created poetry for me.
But I guess it’s enough for him.
Because he shudders.
His forehead drops over mine. Then, “I meant what I said, Echo. I meant it. I’ll believe, okay? I’ll be a good boyfriend to you. I promise. I’ll fix everything. I’ll… And I know there’s a lot that I need to fix. From last night. I didn’t protect you. And God, I… I fucked you in the ass, baby. And then I didn’t stick around to make sure you were okay. And even before that, I used you for sex. I —”
“We’re even.”
“What?”
I bring my hands up to his rigid jaw. “I lied to you. I kept secrets from you. And a girlfriend doesn’t do that. I texted him behind your back and I’m so sorry. And then I attacked him. So we’re even now. And you didn’t use me for sex. That was love, remember?”
“Love.”
“Yeah.” Then, “And also, I took the pills.”
“You did.”
“Yes,” I whisper, smiling slightly. “I knew you’d be beating yourself up about it. For not being able to take care of me after… So I took the pills. And I’m fine. There’s no pain.”
A relieved breath escapes him. “Good girl.”
I shiver. “I love you.”
Another breath.
As his eyes flutter closed for a second. Like mine did when I wanted to absorb it all.
“You’re wearing a tie,” I point out the obvious with my own twitching lips.
He chuckles, his warm breath wafting over my mouth. “I am.”
“You hate ties.”
“Yeah.”
“You cut your hair.”
“I did.”
“And you shaved.”
“Didn’t wanna look like a criminal in front of your parents. Or at least, not again.”
“That was very cool.”
“What was?”
“That you gave my mom a flower.”
“It’s the least that I could’ve done. After what I was hoping that she’d do for me.”
“What?”
“You.” He presses my cheek. “Give me a chance to at least talk to you.”
My heart squeezes. “I love you, Reign.”
His jaw tightens up before he says, “I love you too. So fucking much, Echo.”
And then, we both make the move.
We both reach for each other and kiss.
We kiss and kiss and keep kissing.
Until it’s time for me to go.
He walks me back to my door and leaves me with my parents like he’d promised. He tells me that he’ll call me later. Because he’s my boyfriend now. And even though I don’t want him to leave, I still let him go and shut the door with a smile.
Because I’m his girlfriend now.
Finally.
After six long years.
EPILOGUE
He looks like magic.
Of course he does.
Just look at him.
Zipping across the field with his dark hair, now much longer — as long as it used to be back then — flying in the air. Zooming from goalpost to goalpost with a speed that should be impossible. Much like the ball that he’s dribbling and kicking. And made the first goal with at six minutes into the game.
We’re at the thirty-second minute and the score still remains 1-0. And I know, I know that there’s still a long way to go and anyone who knows anything about soccer knows that things change with seconds to spare in this game.
So I probably shouldn’t be overconfident.
But I am.
Because it’s him and as I said, he’s magic.
Oh, and the Daredevil, who does impossible things, things that no one ever does.
“So are you sure? As in, really sure about your living situation.”
I look away from the game to focus on the girl sitting beside me. A couple of years older than me, Maple Mayflower is gorgeous. With whiskey-colored eyes and wheat-blonde hair, she has to be one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen.