Page 84 of Antidote

This time, he kisses my top lip first, then my bottom lip. I close my eyes and crash my lips against his, sucking on his bottom lip aggressively, and he groans. When he pulls away, he flutters his eyelashes against my cheek, and I laugh. It tickles slightly, but I let him. He’s always liked butterfly kisses, and I can’t deny him a damn thing in this lifetime.

One of his hands comes to my lower back, and he trails his fingertips over my skin like before. I can feel the steady beating of his heart on my chest, though I can tell he can feel the way mine is going crazy because he smiles at me with a twinkle in his eyes. I know he can tell how much he affects me, and I don’t even care at this point. I want him to know that I can’t live without him. It doesn’t feel like I’m weak or vulnerable by putting myself out there anymore. Instead, I know he’s going to meet me halfway.

“What did you want to ask me?”

Hunter grabs the covers from around my hips and brings them over our heads. We’re suddenly wrapped in a cocoon of darkness, the same way we used to be back during senior year. Like nothing could hurt us here—our own little bubble.

“I want to talk about the future,” he whispers, and I feel his heart kick up. It’s beating faster, harder. “Us.”

“What about us?” I whisper back, and I can’t help it, my hands tighten around the sheets with fear.

“I want to know what you want to do after college.”

“I’d like to sell my paintings.” I smile, even though he can’t see me. “Become well-known.”

“Where?” He kisses my cheek. “Where do you want to live?”

“My dream is New York.” I chuckle. “But it’s far-fetched.”

“Why?” I can just imagine his little frown.

“Do you know how expensive it is to live there?”

Hunter grips my hips and tightens his fingers. “New York has reached out to me. They want me.”

“What are you saying?”

“We could live there. If you want.” I stay silent. “The NHL pays good, Ollie. We will be fine.”

“You want us to live together?”

“Why not?” He chuckles. “We already do.”

He has a point, so I nod. Making plans for the future feels vulnerable, though. What if he gets bored of me? What if someone more interesting comes along? “So, you’d choose New York for me?”

“I’d choose anywhere for you,” he replies firmly, emphasizing his words with a squeeze of my hips. “You have to know that by now.”

“New York it is, then,” I say with excitement. My hands shake slightly, so I tighten them around the covers again. “What about you? Are you ready to come out that way?”

“I am.” My stomach flips, and his body trembles underneath me. “I want you to marry me after college.”

I gasp, my heart squeezing in my chest. Letting go of the covers, I cup his face. “Do you mean that?”

“I do,” he replies softly, his voice shaking. “I want forever.”

I kiss him, just a quick press of our lips, and my eyes sting. I don’t even know how to describe this feeling. Relief, maybe? That it’s finally happening. That he wants this as much as I do. That he’s no longer trying to hide. It gives me hope for the future.

“What do you say then, Ollie?”

“I say yes,” I whisper, kissing his cheek. My lips linger, and I feel him smile against me. “Let’s go to New York. Let’s get married. Let’s build a life together.”

I bury my face in the crook of his neck and inhale his scent, and the way he’s rubbing my back lulls me into a light sleep. Somehow, the covers end up back around my waist, probably from Hunter getting hot. But I don’t dare move; I don’t want to wake him. Closing my eyes, I try to fall back asleep. I almost accomplish it, until I hear a soft sound coming from the living room. I frown, trying to figure out what it is. Trying not to freak the fuck out. The bedroom door is open as always…

There’s no way?—

“What the actual fuck is going on here?” my dad’s voice booms, and Hunter and I both jump to a sitting position.

The covers slip from around my waist in the process, probably showing Dad how naked I am, and I scream, “Dad! Get out.”

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