Page 35 of Are You Gonna Run?
Her jaw drops. “What’s wrong with my baby toe?”
“Absolutely nothing. I love it just the way it is.”
Keeping my face neutral is hard, but she shoves me off of her and rips the blanket off to stare at her feet. “Which one?”
Chuckling, I drop down next to them and take them both into my hands, kissing each and every toe to show her I mean what I say. “I was joking. They’re perfect.”
Her giggle echoes off the walls. “No, you were right. That one’s kinda wonky.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” To fuck with her more, I flick my tongue out to lick it, surprised when I don’t feel even an ounce of revoltion.
The shriek she lets out is worth it, especially when she laughs after. “That felt weird, don’t do that.”
“Weird? So you don’t want my tongue on you now?” Climbing back on top of her, I lick her forehead instead. “Wannaknow something funny? I fucking hate feet. Oh well, I licked it so it’s mine.”
She makes an adorably grossed out face, then sits up. “Will you stay here for a moment? I have something for you.”
“For me?” Collapsing onto the bed, I watch her as she stands and moves toward the door. “Wait, I can’t handle the anticipation.”
“You’ll be fine, you big baby. It’ll be worth it... probably.”
Disappearing, she leaves me in the bed alone for almost five minutes, then returns with something behind her back and a sheepish expression.
“You’ll probably think it’s lame, but whatever. Here.” She hands me a coffin shaped candle with a label on the side that readsLove in a Mausoleum.“It’s peach and cedarwood, for the sour peach rings and the cedar tree I passed in the cemetery the night we met. I know the name is dumb, but I’ve always been terrible at that sort of thing when it involves my own heart. I started it right after our first date as a way to remember you if you vanished on me, and I finally finished it.”
It’s so much deeper than some Halloween blanket and candy. This gifttook time, required thought, and proves to me that she was just as worried about me leaving as I was with her. We may not have known what the hell we were doing the day we met, but somehow we both knew this had the potential to be something real. It’s the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me, but how do I put that into words?
I’m still staring down at the candle as I think of all the gifts I’ve received in my life, and how all of them were one of three. She might think I kept being a triplet a secret from her, but in reality, I was keeping her to myself. For the first time, I had something that was solely mine, someone who was one of a kind, and as I close my eyes and inhale the perfect blend of peaches and cedar, I know nothing will ever come between us. “Thank you,” I whisper. It isn’t enough, so I clear my throat and try again. “I’ve never had something custom made for me before, baby. I — I fucking love it.”
I smell it again and flick my eyes to hers, finding a soft, understanding glow in them.
“I tried to make one that smelled like your cologne. I got close, and I know I got the notes right, but I don’t think it smellsthe same. The way it reacts with your skin and your natural scent changes it. I can’t replicate it.”
Fuck, she really does love me.Me.
“Guess that scent is just for you, sweetheart. You nailed this one.” I hold up the candle with a soft smirk. “The smell alone makes me want to chase you.”
“Yeah?” She climbs back in bed with me and hums softly. “Let’s take a raincheck on that. I think I’ve done enough running for the night.”
“Oh yeah, you’re not going anywhere tonight. You just confessed your love for me.”
I still love her more, but something tells me she’d have a good ass argument if I started one, so instead I kiss the top of her head and hold my girl close.
I don’t know much about fate, but she deleted that dumbass app minutes after we matched, and now we’re here... in love.
If that isn’t fate, I don’t care to know what is. I got all I need.
Epilogue: The Spare
One Year Later... ish.
Grumbling, I park my car behind Eris’ Tremor and wonder why the hell he needed to kick me out of the house just to invite his brothers over. Their trucks are taking up most of our driveway, but as I get out to go inside, I see Evan and Enzo running out.
“Oh shit, she’s home,” Evan says. “Have fun in there, girl. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I don’t have time to ask what he means before Enzo adds, “I hope you’re still on birth control,” and tosses me a wink.
They both climb into their trucks and speed off with me just standing therelooking as confused as I feel, so it’s with a little hesitation that I finally make my way in the house.
