“But youdidsave me, Nix. And I don’t mean today. I mean, from the day I met you. I was so scared, both physically and emotionally, after what my father did. The night I met you on the roof of the Jacksons’ house, you made things make sense again.”
Pushing up on my tiptoes, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his mouth. As I drew back, I told him. “I love you, Nix.”
His face warmed, and I felt his hands grip my hips. “Say that again.”
“I love you,” I said louder.
“I like the sound of that.”
Lowering my feet to the floor, I explained. “I feel like such an idiot. I wanted to tell you for so long, but I was scared and didn’t know how to say the words. I felt so insecure about everything, and the thought of you saying you didn’t feel the same way was terrifying.”
“Well, the time to be afraid is over. And I must say hearing you admit it, at last, was worth the wait.”
“I want to be with you always, Nix. The two of us against the w…” he didn’t give me a chance to finish my sentence as he grabbed me, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and kissing me fiercely. I clutched fistfuls of his tee as my entire body melted against his.
The kiss started savage and then melted into one where it felt like he was consuming me whole. Eventually, he lifted his head and looked at me with such tenderness that I almost started crying again.
“Will we be OK? I whispered up at him.
Phoenix slowly nodded as his hands cradled my face. “Baby girl, we’re going to bemorethan OK.”
And we were.
EPILOGUE
HARPER
Around One Year Later
“I think I'm gonna cough up a lung,” Phoenix panted, planting a quick kiss on my cheek before bending over as he tried to get his breath back.
I was standing on our makeshift finishing line beside the picnic area we’d set up the previous hour.
Hudson, Reed, and Nix had just raced up and down the beach like loons; another one of their competitive dick-measuring moments. Reed was starting a new college soon, and we had set up camp for the day to enjoy what was left of the sun. Drinking and relaxing had also been part of the plan, although the Sawyer Brothers wereneverstill for long.
“Fuck that boy is fast,” my boyfriend wheezed.
“Who, Reed?” I asked, glancing down the beach. The reigning champion of their race was now talking on his cell, staring out across the ocean. The shimmering light danced off the soft waves. It was the end of the summer holidays, but the weather was still beautiful.
“Yeah,” Nix replied, coughing air into his hand. At least there was no sign of the lung he’d mentioned.
I smiled and pointed out. “Well, you’re carrying more weight than he is.” I meant because he was taller and packed with more muscle than Reed’s leaner quarterback frame.
Nix frowned at the same time Hudson got back, chuckling. “That’s your girl’s way of saying you’re a fat bastard,” pounding his brother on the back.
Phoenix nudged him off and straightened, stating in a lofty voice. “I beat your sorry ass.”
Hudson screwed his nose up and shrugged. “I wasn’t even trying; I had other things on my mind.” We both knew he was talking about Molly; she’d been at Storm’s all morning, and the boy was pining like a wuss as usual.
Nix rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I think I’ve put my back out,” he huffed, placing his hand at the bottom of his spine and stretching it out. “Or maybe I did that last night,” he added with a wolfish smile at me. Hudson didn’t miss the sexual intonation.
“OK, tone it down,” Hud batted back with a grimace. He saw himself as my real brother; he was bound to be grossed out.
“AndI kicked a stone. Felt like my toe was going to come off,” Nix added, lifting one bared foot.
“Quit bellyaching like a bitch and pass me a beer,” Hudson said, throwing himself into one of the chairs and holding out his hand. We had placed some foldable seats in a line so we could all look at the stunning shoreline. There was a blanket on the floor, and in the center, a cooler full of beer and sodas. Molly messaged me earlier to say she was helping Storm with something and would join us later. When she arrived, we would go back to her house for a dip in Principal Miller’s pool and share a BBQ.
I bent down, grabbed a beer can, and passed it over to Hudson. “Thanks, Baby S.”
