Page 21 of Beautiful Scars

I only hope it hurts bad enough to destroy me when it happens. So I know it's real. I need the pain to stomp out every last bit of hope I've let myself feel since I’ve met him. I need to be reminded that some things aren't for me. That some things will never be for me, no matter how badly I want them.

Finally, unable to bear the silence anymore, I start to stand. "We can go now. Can you at least give me a ride to the edge of town? You can drop me off and I can walk from there."

Before I can get my feet underneath me, Levi reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me back to sit beside him again. "Sunny. Whoa. Hey. Slow down."

He stares at me for a long moment, and I can tell he's thinking of what he wants to say, or do, next. Finally, he turns his body towards mine. Reaching out, he cups my face in his hands. When my eyes lock onto his, my breath catches in my throat, and I freeze. I've seen that look in someone's eyes before. It's a hungry look sitting under a thin layer of concern. It’s dangerous and scares the hell out of me.

My heart pounds wildly in my chest. I flinch back as a deep shudder works it's way through my entire body. I thrash and try to pull away, try to get away. But Levi holds me tight. "Look at me Angel. You're okay. It's me. I'm here. It's okay." His voice is steady as he repeats the words over and over, not letting me go, not letting me look away from him.

Eventually, his words cut through the haze and the fear begins to unravel. My heart rate slows and my breath becomes even again. He softens his hold and strokes my cheek with his thumb. "I will never hurt you Angel. Never. You have to believe that."

He leans in close, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m not letting go of you and I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.” His voice is rough, but tender, and his breath is warm against my skin. It makes my chest ache.

For a second, I think he's going to let go of me and settle back into his own space.

But he doesn’t.

"Can I kiss you, Sunny?"

The question catches me off guard.

No one’s ever asked me that before. They’ve always taken.

The word ‘yes’ sticks in my throat, too foreign to feel like mine, and my heart hammers against my ribs.

But somehow, I manage a small nod. And then—he kisses me.

Not rough. Not demanding. Just soft, warm, and impossibly gentle.

The world doesn’t just fade—it vanishes. My body hums with electricity, and for the first time in my life, the voices in my head go silent.

This is what it’s supposed to feel like. This is what it was meant to be. And God help me, I don’t ever want it to stop.

I lean into him fully. All of the fears and doubts I'd been feeling dissolve away into nothing when his hand slides up to the back of my neck.

Tangling my hair in his fingers, he deepens the kiss and I can’t help the soft gasp that escapes my lips. This is everything my first kiss should've been. It's everything that it wasn't. There's no taste of blood, no smell of whiskey, no pain. It doesn't feel dirty and I don't feel broken.

I feel safe. Cared for.

I press closer, my hands trembling as they find their way to his chest, feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart under my fingertips. The kiss is slow and intense, and I don't want it to end.

In this moment, I believe him—every word of what he said. He's already proven to me, twice now, that he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep me safe.

When we finally pull apart, he rests his forehead against mine. Our shallow, ragged breaths mingling in the impossibly small space between us.

“You okay?” he murmurs, his voice low and rough.

I nod, a small, self-conscious smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah. I’m okay.” More than okay. The words feel strange on my tongue, but they're true.

Chapter Twelve

Levi

EverytimeIseeZack, I’mthisclose to losing it.

We’ve been back at school for weeks now, and the guy still hasn’t learned his place. He's always there—walking right up to the line. He never crosses it, but damn if he doesn't come close. He's waiting for me to make the first move. He's smart like that—good at making it look like I'm the one who can't keep it together. That's what he's banking on.

He'd like nothing more than to get rid of me. But I'm not going to make it easy for him.

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