His hand went to my side, and he began tickling me. I rolled over to stop him, wrapping my arms around him, and just like that, the laughter faded. His eyes darkened, and he rolled me back so he was on top, lightly resting there. His eyes fell to my lips as he asked, “Do you really not want to go, or are you just scared of leaving your family again?”

Family. Again.

I shivered at those words.

I answered, “It feels like I just got this family, like we finally fit in with them.”

His hands smoothed over my forehead, tucking some stands of hair back. The touch was so loving and soft, I melted inside. He murmured, “They’ve loved you since the second they found out about you.”

I knew that. I had felt their love so much over the last year, but we were leaving once again.

“It’s not going to go away.”

“What’s not?” I knew what he meant, but I wanted to hear the words.

“We’re going to college, with Damien. We’re not even leaving him. We’re all going to the same school, but that doesn’t mean they’ll stop loving you. They love you almost as much as I do.” His eyes bared into me, looking right to my core. “And you know that love will never go away. Ever. Nothing can shake it. No one can break it. It’ll hold. No matter what.” He lowered his mouth, grazing softly over mine, and he whispered, “It’ll hold, Shay.”

Like his would hold. Like mine would hold. We were strong separately, but when we were together, we were impenetrable. Just like our love for the other. I let his reassurances wash over me. He was right. Everything would be fine, and feeling the unease fade away, I opened my mouth under his.

THE END