"You're not worried?"
"Are you?"
"No, but--well I mean, a little, just because they're not going to get it. I've never even had a boyfriend before. They're newer at the idea of me dating than I am. They'd be freaks about itwhether you were older than me or not. And I just don't want to deal with it. Is that bad? I just want this for a minute, just you and me. No drama, no confrontation."
I think about the town and their gossip but don't bring it up. "Well, whenever you're ready, we'll deal with them together."
"They're not going to like it."
"They'll come around."
At that, she turns around in my arms so she's facing me, tucking her arms in my sides, looking up at me with big, brown eyes.
"I want them to see what I see in you."
This time, it's a flash of pain. I stroke her cheek. "So do I."
"But I don't care if they disapprove. I love them, but I'm not letting them come between us."
"And I'm not losing you again. So whatever happens, we'll handle it."
Her smile makes me feel whole for the first time in a long time. Maybe ever.
"How'd I get so lucky?" she asks.
I stroke her cheek, my heart aching. "I ask myself that every day."
"It's not as scary to think about dealing with my parents or the town giving us a hard time knowing I'm not alone."
"You're not alone. You'll never be alone again."
She stretches for a kiss, and I hold her face with both hands, giving her everything, giving her all of me. Then she lays on my chest, and I recline a little to make space for her arms to wrap around my waist.
"They're not going to make it easy for us, are they?" she asks.
"No. They're not. Let them talk."
"But what if it gets worse? I keep thinking…what if this costs you something? Your reputation, your job--"
"Stop. Don't do that."
"But Grey, you've been here your whole life. Everyone knows you, respects you, and I just--"
I pull her up a little, saying, "Look at me." She does. "There is nothing--nothing--more important to me than you. Not my reputation, not this town, not anything. You hear me?"
Her eyes shine with tears, breaking my heart all over again. "I just don't want you to regret--"
"The only thing I regret is ever letting you go. Fuck all of them. You and me against the world, peaches."
She looks up at me, something shifting in her. "You and me against the world."
I kiss her soft and deep and long enough that she's arching into me, panting, and my cock is starting to notice her breasts in great detail. So I break it, smile down at her. She smiles back looking mischievous, her face flushing.
"So…now that we've done it…"
"Yeah?"
"How soon can we do it again?"
