Page 104 of This I Promise You
“It’s…yourLAKERSshirt. But—”
“It’s yours now. I figured it’s the token of when things started to get better between us, and you looked so much better in it than I ever did. So I want you to have it.”
His mouth is open in awe, his eyes wide. He fingers the fabric and handles it like it’s the crown jewel.
“Oh, there’s also some rings and necklaces I thought would look cute on you, too. You have, like, zero jewelry. If you don’t like them we can take them back and get something else.”
He reaches back into the bag and takes out the jewelry. “No, it's perfect.” He leans over and kisses me. “I love it.”
“I loveyou.” I tell him, and I mean it.
Easton
You’re Not Going to Believe Where I’m At
I wake to Riley Green’s voice blaring from my phone. I quickly silence it. I don’t want to wake Paul. He’s so peaceful right now.
Sleep looks good on him. I yawn as quietly as I can, then trace the freckles running over his cheeks and across his nose, counting each one. I can just make out the movement of his eyes under his closed eyelids. Wonder if he’s dreaming of me… I know I was dreaming of him.
It was like a slideshow of memories, some that we haven’t even made yet, rolling through my head. The night out in the country in the back of his rented truck, the fire in his eyes after he ran into me when the goose attacked him, the glee in his face when he stomped everyone in the last round of trivia, rolling on the sand together. Only the good parts, they’re the only parts that matter.
And then there was a sunset on the top of a mountain I’ve never visited, with his arm wrapped around me and my head on his shoulder, a kiss under fireworks on the Fourth of July, him on one knee and tears rolling down my face, black tuxes andI do's.
I sigh as my eyes travel to his naturally dark pink lips. They’re parted just a little. I want to lean in and kiss him, but it’d be cruel to wake him, especially if he’s so asleep my ringer didn’t do it already.
Who was calling anyway?
I grab my phone off the little wooden table. Aidan. AIDAN! Oh no! What time is it?
9:03 p.m.
Shit! We’re supposed to be at the theater in, like, ten minutes! He is, or maybe isn’t now, taking me to see the new Godzilla movie for my birthday.
Please don’t be mad, Aidan.
EASTON: Sry! OMW. You're not going to believe where I’m at! We can miss the previews.
Now for the big question. Do I wake him before I go or leave him undisturbed? He’s so adorable like this, and adorable isn’t usually his look. I could leave a note, then send him a text to wake up to later, but it seems wrong to just leave after the evening we had, especially after finally telling him I love him.
I sigh and shake my head. I have to hear it one more time.
I scoot closer, pressing my bare skin against him and wrapping my arm over his waist. I run my fingers through his beard and cup his jaw. His eyes flutter open, and even in the darkness of the room that seafoam shines through. My breath catches and I smile.
“Hey, babe,” I whisper.
“Belle.” Paul stretches his arms and yawns, and as he does, I notice new ink on his hand. At least I think it’s new. No, I know it is. There isn’t a mark on his body I haven’t seen. I pull his hand down to look at it.
“Did you just get this?” I ask. “I don’t remember this one.”
“Uh-huh.” He weaves his fingers between mine. “I got it in your honor while I was in Kansas City. Do you like it?”
I try to talk, but my words catch in my throat. I stare at the beautiful art just below his thumb, now permanently part of him, like he’s permanently part of me. “You seriously got a tattoo for me?”
“Look.” He holds my hand like he would if we were walking outside. “It’s like I’m giving you a rose. And it reminds me of you.”
“Yeah?” I ask. “How?”
“’Cause you’re so beautiful and sweet.” He slithers his arms under mine and wraps himself around me. “Well, sweetsometimes.”
