Page 13 of Pocketful of You

"Yeah, cool, I guess." She sighed heavily. "I just don’t get it."

"What don’t you get, Ro?"

"I'm nothing special."

"Bullshit. You're fucking gorgeous."

"I didn’t say I was ugly," she quipped. "I said I'm nothing special. Not when you really think about it."

"You are to me."

"Sketch, get real. I'm being serious here –"

"So am I." Unfolding my arms from behind my head, I twisted onto my side and stared down at her. "I love you for a lot of reasons, Ro."

"Name three reasons that don’t include the phrases 'you're my best friend', or 'we grew up together', or 'that's what we're supposed to do'," she huffed, putting on my voice. "Oh wait, that's right, you can't. Because all I am is the cute girl next door, but you'll grow out of me. Yep. You'll see. One day, you're gonna wake up and realize –"

"Oh, shut up, you big dork," I growled before smacking my lips against hers. "Yes, I love you because of all the things you don’t want me to list, but that's just the tip of the iceberg on my list of reasons." Tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear, I stroked her nose with mine. "I love you because you are the best part of my day." Smiling, I pressed a kiss to the curve of her jaw. "I love you because you are sweet, and funny, and smoking hot –" I paused to flick my tongue over her fluttering pulse, "I love you because you make me feel wanted and safe, and…not alone. I'm always alone, Ro. 'Least that's how I feel. But you? You make the loneliness go away."

A shaky breath escaped her parted lips. "Sketch –"

"I love you because yousawme when I needed someone to, and because you keepseeingme," I quickly continued, needing to reassure my girl. "I love you because I can't see straight when I'm not with you, and I see even less when I am. Most people get growing pains when they grow up, but I get Romi-pains."

A small laugh escaped her. "Romi-pains?"

"Hell yeah," I laughed back. "Because I'm racing to keep up with you."

"Sketch…"

"Now, I know I ain't good with words, but I can promise that I ain't never growing out of you."

"No?"

I shook my head. "I'm growingwithyou."

A smile ghosted her lips. "Keep it coming, fullback."

I grinned down at her. "You don’t wanna hear this, but youaremy first, last, best, and only friend." I pressed a kiss to her glossy lips. "You also happen to be my first, last, best, and only lover." Grinning, I tapped her nose with my finger. "Because you, Romi Dillon, are my only everything."

She beamed up at me. "Since forever?"

I nodded. "And for always."

She snaked a hand up to cup my stubbly cheek. "You're getting all hairy here." A wide grin spread across her pretty face as she trailed her fingers up and down my jaw line. "Turning into a real good man, Sketch Capaldi." She waggled her brows playfully. "Myman."

"Fuck, Ro," I groaned, feeling too damn much for this girl. "You shine." I kissed her again, deeper this time. "You're so damn pretty, it hurts."

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Shut the heck up and keep on kissing me –"

"It's true." Tipping her chin up, I looked deep into her brown, whiskey-colored eyes. "I take one look at your face, and I'm seeing everything. My entire life mapped out. I'm seeing memories. Memories your face is in. Memories and moments that built me into what I am now. You're important to me. More than you know. This face right here is the only face that matters to me." Grinning wolfishly, I pecked her lips with mine. "See? You shine, baby."

"Say we're forever, Sketch," she begged in a wistful tone. "Promise me that you'll never leave me, and in sixty years' time, you'll drag my wrinkly ole butt down to the creek to star-gaze with you."

I winked. "It's a date."

5

Presley

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