“I’ll do everything I can.” I don’t want to lie to him, but they probably won’t let me out of their sight. It’s happened before. If they see me, by law someone has to follow me until I’m in the new guardian’s custody.
“You look like you’re saying goodbye,” he says softly, cupping my face gently and looking at me with such helpless sadness, I feel tears prick at my eyes.
“I don’t want to,” I whisper with tears in my voice. “But it’s not my choice, Ty.”
Asher’s right behind him and he reaches out to put a hand on Ty’s shoulder, but the moment he touches him, Ty shakes it off.
“What can I do?” he asks. He looks trapped in those dark eyes of his, and I can see the helplessness. He’s drowning in it, the mask he usually wears is nowhere in sight today.
“Nothing. There’s nothing to do.” I give him a sad smile.
“Give me something, anything. A phone number, email, anything.” He turns to Asher, “Get me a pen, paper, hurry.”
Asher pulls his backpack off quickly, and searches through.
There’s a staticky crackle through the intercom again and I know my time is running out.
“Roxanne Westin, to the office. Roxanne Westin to the office. This is your second warning.”
Fuck.
“Here.” Asher hands it to Ty quickly, who passes it to me.
“Please,” Ty adds softly.
This is a moment that could go either way. I could tell him no, guard my heart against potential hurt and leave this chapter…or I could give in. Let the potential heartbreak happen.
But maybe I could keep him?
I make the choice quickly. I write my email down and the current phone number I have but I doubt it’ll be in service much longer. It’s on Becky and Tom’s plan.
“Here,” I say, handing him back the paper. “Whatever happens… It’s okay.”
“Come here,” he whispers, pulling me in with one hand on my waist and wrapping the other around my neck, slipping his fingers into my hair while he’s at it, pulling me to him like we’re in a movie.
His lips press against mine roughly, and the emotion behind it is so powerful that everything else falls away.
Ty presses his body harder against mine as he deepens the kiss, showing me through his kiss how much he feels. For me.
It’s too much. It’s too much. This is already going tohurt.
Pulling back, I have to force myself to leave. I have to yank my body from his, leaving him trailing after me in such a way that says he wasn’t ready for it to end. I wasn’t either.
“Thank you,” I say because that’s all I have right now. “Thank you.”I repeat my words but the intention this time is completely different. I’m not just thanking him for the kiss or choosing me. I’m thanking him for making me feel accepted, included, wanted.
All things I didn’t know people could feel about me.
I look over his shoulder to Asher and repeat my thanks.
“I drew some things for you. They’re in your sketchbook,” he says quickly, and I step back. My heart fills with joy, even in the midst of this hell.
I wish I had something to give him. Anything small to give him that would remind him of me.
He holds my hand as I stretch back, but my eye catches on my bracelet. The one I don’t take off.
“Here,” I say suddenly, untying the leather cord and wrapping it around his wrist.
“I can’t—” he starts to say, but I shush him.
