Page 89 of Every Move You Make

“Please.”

“Okay,” he coos, brushing wet strands of hair behind my ear. I can hear his smile. “I’ll kill him for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you think I’d go to prison here or back in Pennsylvania?”

“Probably here.”

“Okay. I could make a decent life in prison, I think. I could put my makeshift tattoo skills to good use.”

I think of his inner forearm and rear back. “Is that what that is?” I ask, grabbing his arm. “What is this supposed to be?”

“That’s Floyd Pepper, bassist from Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. You know, the band on The Muppets Show.”

“It looks like a bruise.”

“That it does,” he smiles.

“You’re not going to do very well in prison.”

He sighs dramatically, “Probably not.”

“Maybe it’s best you don’t kill my ex-boyfriend.”

He boops me on the nose. “Another day, then.” I realize my heart rate has returned to normal and my tunnel vision has opened up.

“So, you know about my solo content on OnlyFans, right?”

He nods. “I found it after doing a deep dive on you.”

“Yeah. I used to have a lot more. But even though I deleted my account, there are still videos that pop up every now and again. I had never planned on making content like that, but Travis,” I sigh. “He told me if I didn’t take him back after he cheated on me, that he would upload our video.” I shrug. “I called his bluff, but was prepared for him to really do it. And he did. So, like the rational and not at all bull-headed young twenty-somethin’ I was, I got in front of it and made my own content. All he did was fuel my fire.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Y’know, I never used to be. I didn’t think about what it would mean for future me or my romantic relationships, because after him, I didn’t think I’d ever trust someone with my heart again.”

“Then why do you trust me?”

For a few long moments I float there, wrapped in arms so big they make an ox like me feel small, searching for an answer in his eyes—his eyes which are more brilliant than the sparkling pool holding us together.

More brilliant than the sunset behind him.

“I dunno. I’m just runnin’ on instinct with you.”

Isaiah’s answering smile is too sweet to leave alone, so I kiss him and savor every second. Innocent and promising, it stretches on for a lifetime, into a future I didn’t know could exist for me.

1. I Remember Everything by Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Muskgraves

Chapter 38

Sunrise Picnic

Isaiah

With pruny skin, damp hair, and aTwisted Sisterstrue crime episode in our ears, we went to bed early as determination overpowered me. Dell Breaux was mine to take care of.

I resolved that in the morning, I would wake up and make him breakfast before he even stirred. Instead I woke to an empty bed before the sun was even up.

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