Dropping my head down, I close my eyes. “I love her, Yale, I love that girl in a way I’ve never loved anyone.”
“Do you mean that?” Her voice sings in my ears, causing me to whip my head over my shoulder. “Did you really mean all that stuff you just said?” Folding her arms across her chest, Starla is taking careful steps towards us.
There are tears in her eyes, I can see them from where I’m standing as they reflect like a mirror. The water is balancing on the thin edge of her lid, threatening to fall if she blinks. I don’t want to be the cause of anymore tears for her. I want to be the reason for her smiles, for her laughs, for her happiness.
Tilting her head, she hugs herself tighter as she stops a few feet away. “Well, did you really mean all that? Or was it all another show you were putting on? Because you seem to be really good at lying, you know that?”
Everything I had prepared in my head to say to her suddenly vanishes as my brain kicks up dust and debris.
There are no words because I don’t need them. There are no words because she takes my breath away. There are no words because nothing I could say would ever measure up to what I feel in my heart.
Starla deserves so much more than I have to give, but I’m willing to lose it all for her if I have to.
Closing the distance between us, I scoop her face in my hands and wrap my fingers around her head. Kissing her hard, I let all my emotions and feelings flow from my lips to hers.
I want her to feel what I can’t say. I want her to know that I’m not playing pretend. I want her to see that this is real. Everything about us is real.
“I love you,” I say, speaking against her lips, refusing to break away. “I love you, Starla Bishop and I should have told you that sooner. And maybe if I had been honest with myself, I would have.”
Tears fall freely down her cheeks, and I can taste the salty water as it mixes with our kiss. In the past, a kiss like this would have ended with me pushing her away and telling her it was over.
I don’t like crying; I don’t like emotional messes. This is different. I want to take her tears away, I want to capture them before they can hurt her, I’m ready to bear whatever pain she feels so she doesn’t have to hurt anymore.
Because that’s what love is.
Love is being there no matter what, it’s about accepting someone for who they are, it’s about the smile you feel inside when you’re with that person, and the laughs you can relive with just a thought.
Standing up on her toes, she kisses me back, curling her arms around my neck. “I love you too,” she says through a whisper.
I feel her words. I feel them as they enter my mouth and move down my throat. I feel them as they swim through my veins and invade my chest. My heart explodes, sending an explosion of electricity through my body.
Starla is my life. She’s what I’m living for.
Yale is standing awkwardly behind us, rocking back and forth on his heels as he looks around the room. Starla drops down to flat feet, wiping the tears off her cheeks. Sniffling, she sticks her hands into her back pockets and smirks.
“I’m sorry, Yale,” she says, giving him an apologetic smile. “I shouldn’t have hit you.”
“Wait—” Holding up my hand, I glance between them. “You hit him?”
Yale nods, pointing at a red blotch on his cheek. “Yeah, but I deserved it.”
I can’t stop the grin as it spreads from ear to ear. “She got you good.”
Nodding, he rubs his cheek. “She did.” Wrinkles crawl across his forehead as he arches his brows. “Bolt, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you felt this way. I should have asked, I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in where it didn’t belong. I never meant to hurt either of you.”
Resting my hand on his shoulder, I give him a little shake. “Stop, you didn’t do anything wrong. This was my idea, not yours, I’m the one to blame. I don’t want you feeling bad about shit, none of it falls on you.”
Yale’s body relaxes as he lets out a breath. “Thanks, Bolt, I appreciate that.” Glancing between Starla and me, he asks, “Well, now what? Are you guys staying, going out for drinks, what?”
Taking Starla’s hand, I lift it to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “We’re here until tomorrow, the reunion is probably still going, so we can go up there, or. . .” Pausing, I lower my lids and grin. “There are three pools, four hot tubs, and a five mile section of beach.” Winking, I bite the inside of my cheek. “I did miss you in the pool earlier in that sexy little bikini.”