Page 115 of This I Promise You
“I love you too, Huxley.”
We cheer and clink plastic cups and everyone breaks out into conversation again.
Cameron whispers something to Noah and they go off on their own. Ooh la la! Is someone making a move?
I take inspiration from Cameron and pull Easton outside with me.
“Everything okay?” he asks once the door closes behind us.
“Yeah. It’s perfect.”
I pull Spider-Man into me and kiss him. He doesn’t part his lips, but just kisses me sweetly. It reminds me of that time back in my apartment when we made up after my anxiety attack. That time he kissed me the exact same way. That time I knew for certain that I was in love with him.
He pulls away with a devilish look on his face, then whispers in my ear, “I want you to fuck me—”
“Oh, I will.” I let my lips hang open.
“—wearing this.” He places his hand on my chest over the maid costume.
I pull back, eyes wide. He seriously wants me to keep this on while I fuck him? Whoa. I mean, it would be sexy as shit, I guess, but I didn’t think Easton would want to get that freaky. I certainly haven’t done anything like that before, but I’m totally down. “Wait, what?”
“I want you to wear this while you—”
“Oh, no, I got that. But really?”
He shrugs. “Take me home and find out for yourself.”
My groin flares and I grin so hard my face hurts. So I push him up against the wall and kiss him until my lips are numb. Until time doesn’t exist.
There was a time before all of this when I thought I wasn’t allowed to want love. Or sex. I was so terrified to open up and let anyone in after the abuse I endured. But that’s just it, Ienduredit. Continually. I didn’t give up no matter how much I truly wanted to. And I’m learning not to let it all define me.
Sure, not every day will be a good day, but not every day will be a bad day either. I have a great support system around me so that I don’t have to go through anything alone anymore. I get to choose who I want to be and how I want to live. I get to choose who I want as my family.
I’m not afraid anymore. Because I’m home.
Easton is my home.
Easton
Epilogue: Under the Stars
It’s clearer out tonight than I remember it being last time, and so much warmer. The moon might not be visible, but the katydids and crickets are out in force, filling the air with their chirping while the stars shine overhead.
“Whachya wanna do?” Paul asks, rolling to meet my gaze atop the thick blanket I stole from his closet earlier.
“I don’t know.” I smile up at him, and he leans down and pecks my lips. “What do you wanna do?”
“You, if you let me.”
I hit him and laugh. “No, not like that. I was thinking… We’ve got all summer to do what—”
“Never a better time than the present.” Paul’s smile gleams back. He’s so full of himself, but I love it.
I roll my eyes and laugh. “True, but I wanted to talk to you aboutoursummer. You didn’t exactly get off on the best foot with my dad, but I’d really like for you to meet him…again. Like, really meet him, and Sam too. She’s been asking when she gets to meet you. Well, so has Dad.”
“Your dad’s been asking about me?” Paul’s surprised, like really surprised. Eyes wide, chin tucked back and all.
“Yeah.” I nod.
