Page 18 of Sadistic

"I didn't want to be another hookup. That's why I made you sleep on the couch." He traces patterns on my shoulder."Brought you water every hour. Held your hair when you threw up."

"Very romantic."

"You kissed me the next morning. Said thank you for being a gentleman. Then you bit my lip and said ‘but you didn't have to be one’."

"I'm smoother than I remember."

"You're perfect is what you are." His hand tightens on my hip. "And in four weeks, you'll be his."

My phone buzzes.

Dalla:

Time's up

"I have to go."

This time getting dressed feels final.

Every piece of clothing is another step toward goodbye.

Njal watches from the bed, memorizing.

I avoid looking at him, knowing one glance will break me.

"Wait." He gets up, disappears into his closet. Comes back with a small box. "I bought this six months ago. Was waiting for the right time."

Inside is a simple silver necklace with a tiny wolf pendant.

"Njal—"

"I know you can't wear it. I know it doesn't... I just wanted you to see it. To know that I was going to try. After graduation. I was going to tell your dad, tell everyone. I was going to fight for us."

"Don't do this."

"Take it anyway. Hide it, throw it away, whatever. Just... know that you were loved. Really loved. Not because of some deal or alliance or whatever bullshit. Just because you're you."

I take the box with shaking hands. "I can't?—"

"I love you," he says as I reach the door. "Past tense, present tense, future tense. That doesn't change."

"I know." It's all I can give him.

"Be happy, Rev. As happy as you can be."

I nod, not trusting my voice, and leave before I can't.

Dalla takes one look at my face and starts the car.

We're five miles down the highway before she speaks.

"How was it?"

"How do you think?"

"That bad?"

"He's thinking about seeing Ingrid, or maybe he is seeing her." I pull out the box, show her the necklace. "And he bought this six months ago."

---