Page 99 of The Art of Drowning

Our mouths clashed with a violent clack of teeth before Damien immediately gentled the kiss, like he could settle now that he was touching me. Well, more like now that he was on my lap, straddling me, pinning me to the couch, kissing me wild and deep before pulling away and staring at me with eyes full of tears and the most heartbreakingly tentative smile on his face. Happiness was fragile, but hope was strong.

“I can’t breathe without you either. I feel like I’ve been drowning every day since that afternoon in the pool.”

I studied his face, his long dark lashes, the pink in the apples of his cheeks, the slightly crooked front teeth. Everything about him was perfect and beautiful.

“Then maybe it’s time we both stopped treading water and got out of the pool.”

Damien narrowed his eyes, but his smile brightened. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to say that I love you. I’ve always loved you. I’m always going to love you. Let me take you to dinner. Let me show you that I can be who you need me to be. Let me show you that you deserve so much more than I’ve ever given you. Than anyone has ever given you.”

He stared at me quietly, and I watched the way he tried to steady himself with a deep breath, then another. I reached up and cradled his cheek in my hand and he closed his eyes and leaned into my touch. And then he leaned forward and kissed me again. Slowly this time. Soft and achingly sweet. No tongue at first, just his soft, pillowy lips moving against mine, making my heart flutter before he pulled away.

With his eyes still closed, he pressed his forehead against mine. His hands were resting on my shoulders and I felt the way his fingers flexed and he gripped me tighter.

“I’ve loved you for years. I tried to stop.”

“I know you did.” I let out a weak laugh, some of the tension easing out of me. “I’m glad you failed.”

“Me too.” Damien kissed me even though he was smiling and laughing now. “I love you.”

“Is that a yes, you’ll let me take you to dinner?”

“It’s a hell yes, with a side of please stay the night if you can.”

“Well, you’re in luck, because I think I’d die if I had to leave right now.”

“Oh, we can’t have you dying.” Damien purred and moved closer, winding his arms around my neck. “Not when I just got you back. You’re not going anywhere. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Tell me again.”

He brushed his lips against mine, and I heard the hope in his voice, the elation that chipped away at the longing.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you. I’ll always love you.” I wrapped my arms around him, skated my hands down his back, and pulled him closer.

Damien kissed me at that exact moment.

And I was home.

damien

EPILOGUE

Sometimes waking up next to Callum didn’t feel real. Especially on mornings when the light was soft and it made him look like he was glowing when it hit his hair just right. When he sensed that I was staring at him, he’d open his eyes and smile at me, and I’d fall in love with him all over again.

It had been two years since Callum uprooted his life for me. He’d insisted over the past couple years that it wasn’t much of a life and that he was happier with me. And I… I believed him because the same was true for me.

A lot had changed in the two years we’d been together. For starters, after that first night, Callum split his time evenly between his apartment and mine until eventually he confessed that he only went home because he couldn’t leave his cat alone all the time.

So I told him to bring Crudinski with him. And if he was doing that, he might as well bring all his stuff too.

That was three weeks after he moved. When he asked if I thought we were rushing things, I said no, and shook my head. Then I kissed him and explained that I’d waited years for us to live together and that he had too. The only thing holding us back was us.

He moved in the next day.

We upgraded to a bigger condo. One with room for us to share a home office. The complex we moved to had a pool, which had been a not-so-secret selling point for both of us, even if we never openly admitted it to each other. The pool was sentimental and whenever we swam, it took me back to that summer. I could feel the sun on my skin and taste cool iced tea on Callum’s lips when we kissed.