Page 121 of Guilty Minds


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"Jake says it was at the same time we were together,” I whisper.

“Right. Fuckin’ Jake.” He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and opens them. “He knows where the spare key is, and he let her in, hoping I'd fuck her when I woke up.” I wince at his bluntness, but he continues. “You need to hear that. I haven’t been with anyone for a very long time, Kay. A very long time. Long before we had something, I couldn’t even look at anyone else. And after…” He shakes his head. “And do you really think that after I had you, I’d be able to look at someone else? Did I really give you that impression?”

“You did,” I answer honestly, my voice small. This story is too surreal to be true. And at the same time, it’s too surreal to be made up.

“I’m sorry, Kay. I’m really sorry.” He makes a move to come to me but stops himself mid-step. “I hope one day you will be able to forgive me for all the shit I’ve done. All of it. And I’m ready to prove to you every single day that I’m an idiot. Every single day for the rest of my life.” His eyes are full of pain and remorse, his Adam’s apple bobbing in harsh swallows.

“What are you saying, Justin?” My voice is barely above a whisper.

“I’m saying that I love you. I think I’ve loved you for a very long time.” He inches closer to me, but not close enough, giving me the power to decide our distance.

“Months?” My heart starts singing before he even replies.

“Years.”

“Oh.” My eyes widen—how is that possible? “You sure?” Such a stupid question.

“I’m very sure.” He chuckles. “You’re my home.”

I feel a hot tear escape my eye and run down my cheek. “Why are you crying, Kay? What happened?” He finally steps closer and gently wipes the tear away with one knuckle. It’s the first physical contact I’ve experienced with him in forever, and my body’s weeping for more. A stopper’s been pulled, opening a waterfall in my eyes, and I can’t control myself anymore.

Justin grabs my hand and pulls me into him, enveloping me in his powerful embrace. I wrap my arms around his torso and feel how much weight he’s really lost. I need to feed him. Pronto.

“Do you really love me?” I mumble into his chest.

“I do.” The confidence in his tone ignites a fire in my belly.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to say that." I let out an embarrassing giggle, but I sober up quickly, remembering what he mentioned earlier. "Wait, you said you've been to Boston recently?"

“Yeah, I was at fuckface’s house and then at the parlor.” He tells me as he makes small circles on my back with his hand.

I lift my face up, looking into his eyes. “Why didn’t you say anything to me then?”

“I dunno.” He shrugs. “You looked so happy, so content. You were doing something you’ve been dreaming about for so long. I didn’t want to take it from you.”

"Oh, Justin,” I sniffle. “You dumbass. I could have done both.” I wipe my nose with the back of my hand.

“What?” He rears back. “What do you mean?”

“I could go to school and be with you at the same time. People date and stay in school, you know.” I poke his right pectoral.

“What—” He cuts himself off, looking up at the sky. “That fuckface!”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“What do you mea—”

He cuts me off with a hot kiss of his warm lips on mine, his delicious tongue enveloping mine. His hands pulling me into him. His scent assaulting my nose. His chest under my hands. His whole being surrounding me in a bubble of happiness and serenity that I was missing. That feeling of perfect belonging with the person who feels like home—yourhome. Justin was right—we’re home.

“I’ve missed you,” he says into my mouth.

“Me too,” I reply, pulling him back hungrily.

“You’re moving in with me.”

“No, I’m not. You’re a slob.”