Zeke grabs the back of my head, yanking me in for a kiss. It’s full of love and passion and makes up for weeks of pain and anger.
His kiss makes me feel alive.
“I love you too,” he whispers, his breath sending tingles down my spine. “So much.”
“Good,” I respond. “Because no more second chances.”
I grab his collar, pulling his lips down to mine, pressing a soft peck against them.
“Let’s go.” I smile. “I want to hear more stories about your mom.”
Zeke grabs my hand and drags me back outside, where we join our friends and continue talking about why we’re all here tonight.
Elise Harris.
Without her, I never would’ve experienced true love. I never would’ve found someone looking for the same thing as me. Someone to get them to open up.
Without her, I wouldn’t have the person who makes me whole—
I wouldn’t have Zeke.
fifty-six
Zeke
May
When I was little, my mom told me that someday, I’d find a love that would consume me. I always thought she was just saying that because that’s what every mom tells you. That someday you’ll meet the right person, and that will be it.
Little did I know she was telling the truth. I just never thought it was going to be because of her.
That she was going to put the right person in my life at the right time because I was going to lose her. I pushed everyone away for years because I didn’t think they’d understand. I thought they’d run.
But not Avalon.
I tried pushing her away. I showed her my worst. But she didn’t leave. She came back and stood by me as I said my final goodbye to the most important person in my life. My mom knew I’d need someone to help get me through this, and she knew after meeting Avalon, after learning I had shared things with her I never thought I’d share with anyone… that I found that person.
And that she could go.
“What are you thinking about?” Avalon looks up at me, her fingers dancing circles around my bare chest. There’s a sparkle in her eye. The same sparkle I see whenever we’re together.
“How lucky I am.” I lean down and press my lips to hers. It’s short, but it’s perfect.
“That makes two of us,” she responds, biting the top of my shoulder before crawling over me and out of bed.
I admire her naked body as she walks over to my dresser and pulls out one of my Rockford hockey shirts. She pulls it over her head, and it falls perfectly over her curves, landing roughly halfway down her thighs.
I know she’s going to steal it, but I don’t care. They all look better on her, anyway.
I pull myself out of bed and drag on a pair of boxers before meeting her at the dresser. I watch her smile in the mirror as I reach her from behind, wrapping my arms low around her waist and kissing her neck.
I feel the chills travel down her body as she blushes.
“You’re in a good mood this morning,” she continues as I pull her hair out from underneath the shirt she’s wearing.
“I woke up next to you,” I run my hands down her arms and squeeze her hands, “that’s always cause for a good morning.”
“Who would’ve thought that Zeke Harris was such a sap.”