She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not(23)

I smile. “Maybe I’m also a little sorry—sorry for not telling you sooner how much I like you.”

His smile turns real in an instant, and everything inside of me settles. There’s my life-partner. “Oh, yeah?”

I nod. “Your turn. What’s with the groceries?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I shake my head. He sighs dramatically, rolling his eyes to the ceiling for a second. “Joss said it was stupid. It was all I could think of to show you what you mean to me. No Doritos, and an entire box of raisins,” he finishes, a wry smile.

“Saturated fat—that’s what you’ll sacrifice for me?”

“Says the girl who qualified her declaration of love with ‘maybe’.”

We laugh, and it’s familiar, like we’ve always been Kenny and Gage, life-partners and friends. And, then, we stop, because we remember it wasn’t funny a few days ago. Still close, still alone, we stare at one another. Gage breaks eye contact first, looking down and easing back an inch. “I’m sorry I messed up so big. I don’t think sometimes. I want you to trust me, Kennedy. You can trust me.”

Before he finishes, I’m on my toes, arms wrapped around his neck. He is quick to reciprocate, unsatisfied with just a hug. When his lips find mine, we sink in, breathing each other in, saying sorry in a way that makes everything else smaller.

His arms stay around me, his lips mold to mine, and finally—finally—I let myself fall all of the way for Gage Christensen. And what a fall it is.

Leaning back, I look right at him. “I trust you, Gage. More than anyone. And the name’s Kenny.”

His smile is blinding and beautiful, and I can’t help but rise to my toes and kiss him all over again. “People are watching, Kenny.”

I nod. “Yes, they are. Lucky for you, I don’t mind.”



THE END