“I won’t ever leave again,” I vow, needing him to understand. “I was scared and hurt. But, the second I was gone, it felt like the biggest mistake of my life.”
“For a perfectionist like you, that had to be humbling.” He smirks at me in that maddeningly teasing manner I adore. “But don’t worry, if you decide to run, I’ll chase you. I’ll always chase you.” His fingers slip into my hair, and he tugs at it. “We both know I’ll win. I always do when it comes to us.”
He slants his sexy mouth over mine, claiming me with a powerful kiss. All I can do is moan and allow myself to be consumed by it. Canyon has that effect on me. He swallows up my fears and confusion and self-doubt. Takes my burdens and makes them his own.
Since he’s stronger than me, he makes it look easy.
When I’m with Canyon, I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to be me. Alis Sommers. His Wonderland.
“I love you,” I tell him. “In case you didn’t know.”
He grins, boyish and wide and so fucking happy. “Yeah, Chibi, I know. Everyone loves the hero.”
“Getting your facts confused again, Daisuke. Chibi’s the hero.”
We both laugh, but it fades out as he smears lube on his dick, kisses me with such fervor we’re both breathless, and literally fucks me into tomorrow.
I suppose home isn’t a place.
Not a trailer filled with mice or an immaculate mansion filled with Pomeranians or a midtown home filled with cartel goons.
Home is wherever your heart is.
And mine is with Canyon Voss.
My enemy turned lover.
My stepbrother with benefits.
My hypothetical cat’s other daddy.
Home is him.
Canyon
Six years later…
Holy shit.
This year’s Anime Con in Orlando is insane. There are more people than last year, and last year I also bitched about the crowd.
Anime is my thing. My dorky obsession. I liked it before it was trendy. All these other assholes are just posers with their cheap costumes, making the lines longer than they need to be.
“When you scowl like that, you look just like Daisuke,” Alis says, grinning at me. “I mean, it’s hot, and you know I’m into it if you wanna roleplay later.”
“There are children present,” Dad grumbles from beside me, swatting out at Alis.
Caleb jolts forward on Dad’s shoulders, also trying to smack Alis. Alis dodges them and playfully waggles his dagger at Caleb. His squeal of laughter makes me smile. He swings his foam sword at Alis but misses, knocking Quinn’s glasses off his head.
“Sorry, Dad,” Caleb says, giggling.
Dad playfully tickles Caleb. “Be good, and we’ll get some cotton candy.”
“Or we could eat the hummus and carrots I packed,” Quinn says, placing his glasses back on his head. “Sounds yummy, hmm?”
I make a sour face up at Caleb. “Yuck. Hummus is dog food.”
Caleb cackles, and Quinn throws his hands up in exasperation.
“For the love of God, please stop telling your brother hummus is dog food. He fed it to Ginger the other day, and I still can’t get that stain off the couch,” Quinn complains. “Come on, Alis, let’s get this monster some cotton candy.” He pulls Caleb off Dad’s shoulders and sets him on his feet. They hold hands, following Alis into the sea of costumed people.
I shove my hand into my pocket, gripping the box I’d brought with me. I’ve been working up the nerve to ask Alis to marry me. It’s stupid. Not the wanting to marry Wonderland part because we’re together in all the ways that count. He’ll say yes. I know he will. We live together in a small house near the lake, decorated with sculptures that are too meaningful for him to sell. We share a black cat, Ikari, both teach at the same middle school—Alis, art and me, pre-algebra—and rarely spend a moment apart.
But it’s not enough.
I need him in all the ways.
I need him forever.
“You’re sweatin’ it, kiddo,” Dad says, frowning down at me. “He’s going to say yes.”
Breath rushes out of me as I shake off the nerves. Dad went with me to pick out the ring. I’d thought me and Alis getting together might break apart our already fractured family, but in the end, we all stayed whole.
“What if he says no?”
Dad chuckles. “If by some strange reason he does, I’ll thump him on the head until he says yes.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I laugh, shaking my head. “I knew I could count on you.”
He hugs me to him and fucks with my orange and black wig. I shove him away and straighten it, glowering at him. We continue to walk through the throng of people toward the concessions. The ring box in my pocket feels heavy. I’m tempted to text Carrie and ask for some courage, but her last year at Julliard has been intense. She doesn’t need to be bothered by my boy problems.