“I love you too.” I laughed as his eyes started to drift closed. “You’d better take care of the condom before you fall asleep though.”
He grunted and looked down at himself, then sighed.
“I supposed I’d better, but I don’t want to leave you.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here. My bathroom is only there.” I pointed to the door opposite my bed.
“You have your own bathroom?” He frowned and I felt embarrassed, realising that ensuite bathrooms probably weren’t a thing for him. Emily, Liv, and I, had grown up taking a lot for granted, obviously. “I’ve got the best girlfriend ever.” He laughed.
He went to get up off the bed but I held on for one last hug, pulling him back into me.
“Thank you,” I said, holding his face in my hands.
“What for?”
“For making me the happiest girl ever. I never thought we’d get here. But now that we have, I can’t stop smiling.”
“You should always be smiling. I’m sorry I ever made you frown.”
I went to say that he’d made me do a lot more than frown, but I thought better of it. The past was in the past. All that mattered was the future, and I was so excited for mine. Ours.
“I take it this means you’ve got everything sorted? You’re ready to leave those demons of yours behind?” I really hoped he’d say yes, even though I still had a nagging doubt in my mind that something was going to come along to burst our bubble.
Sure enough, my instincts weren’t wrong, and he hung his head and sat up, moving away from me.
“Hey, talk to me.” I grabbed his arm to stop him making his escape to the bathroom. Those years of avoidance were over. We were a couple now. If something needed facing, we’d do it together.
“It’s still not great, but I’m getting there,” he admitted.
“And you’ll get there a damn sight quicker if you share it with me.”
Because I’m not letting you face this alone.
“One day, I will. I promise. But for now, just trust me when I say it’s all in hand. I’m not there yet, but I will be. Soon.”
This was the story of our lives and I was so over it.
“Don’t pull away from me, Finn. Not now. Not after everything. Don’t shut me out,” I said, but to be honest, he didn’t have a choice in the matter. I was here to stay.
He turned and placed his hand over my cheek.
“I’ll never shut you out. I’m protecting you from the darkness.”
“Your darkness doesn’t scare me.”
Never had. Never would.
“It scares me. It scares me that it might drag you down too.”
“Then join me in the light. God, that sounded cheesy. I’m sorry.” I put my hand over my face to hide my embarrassment at how whiney I sounded.
“Don’t apologise. It’s not cheesy, it’s true. You are the light.” He took a deep breath and then gave me a quick kiss on the lips. When he pulled away he said, “I’m the best I’ve ever been. That’s all you need to know. And every day is only going to get better. It’s our turn now, Eff. Our turn to shine.” He pressed his forehead against mine and smiled. “It’s all about you.”
I laughed.
“That’s good enough for me.”
And it was. All my life––well, all my teenage life––I’d wanted Finn to notice me. And now, he was making my dreams come