Page 65 of All Your Life

And this right here is everything I never knew I was missing. She feels small and soft in my arms, she smells so good I want to fill my lungs with the scent of her, and her eyes, when she breaks the kiss to look at me, are trusting. She trusts me.

I decide that I don’t care if she’s leaving. I’m going to soak her in, wring as much goodness from this while I can. I’m going to be with her for as long as she’ll have me, and I’ll be grateful when it’s over, not bitter.

Easing her back onto the couch and positioning myself over her, I kiss her lips, her neck, her collarbone, pausing to breathe her in every time I inhale. “Sarah,” I whisper as I kiss a path back up to her mouth.I want you…I need what you give me…There’s no one but you.That’s what I want my kisses to tell her because I can’t say the words.

“I want you,” she whispers as her hand skims my chest and slides back up to cup my cheek.

“Someday,” I tell her.

She says it back, her eyes soft and dreamy. “Someday.”

The buzz of the dryer puts an end to our moment, but I don’t ever want to forget what this feels like. A fierce sort of loyalty, an urge to shield someone from harm, a desire to be seen as good in someone’s eyes—I’ve never felt this way about a girl before. And no one has ever looked at me the way Sarah does, like I’m her hero or something.

A few minutes later she comes out dressed in her clean clothes and hands me my clothes with an expression that tells me she’s on the same sort of loopy high that I’m on.

If this ends—whenthis ends—I’ll be the one left behind. I know that. For now, though, I’m going to forget about what’s coming and just enjoy what I’ve got.

And today I’ve got Sarah Hamilton.

It’s a good day.

Chapter Thirty-Three

SARAH

“We got veggie wraps, chicken, roast beef—”

Owen cuts her off. “We basically got two of everything,” he’s teasing her and trying to ease her jittery nerves, “just in case.”

She swats his shoulder. “Just in case either of you were vegan, gluten intolerant, allergic to chicken—”

“Seriously, is that even a thing?”

Grace answers him that yes, she once had a student who was allergic to turkey, but I’m only half-listening as I take in the way they move around one another, their playful back and forth. I’m only getting a glimpse, but Grace and Owen share something that brings the wordluckyto mind, and also bears a striking resemblance to my parents’ marriage. It’s one thing to say you’re in love, but to actually witness it like it’s a living thing bouncing back and forth between two people is amazing.

My parents, that young couple from school, and now Grace and Owen—I’ve always had examples of true love in my life. Maybe that’s why I was so uneasy most of the time while I was with Parker. Iknewwhat I was missing out on, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.

“I’m so hungry right now I’d scarf down a roast beef wrap even if I was a vegan.” Watching as Grace and Owen put out serving platters, plates, and dishes filled with enough food to feed twenty, Liam adds, “After the hot shower and this meal, I’m afraid I might face plant right on the table.”

Owen offers, “There’s a guest room.” Looking to Grace like the suggestion may have been a misstep, he backtracks and says, “There aretwoguest rooms. Plenty of space if you want to spend the night and then get on the road tomorrow.”

I shake my head quick and say, “I really have to get back.”

Grace passes me the pitcher, casually asking, “Do your parents know where you are?”

“They do now, but, um, I left yesterday without telling them where I was going.” Grace takes a seat, letting my words sink in. “They know I’m at your house now. It’s ok, but I told them I was heading back to New Jersey sometime later on today.”

“New Jersey.” It’s as if she’s speaking her thoughts out loud when she says, “I have so many questions.”

Owen lowers his head in a way that speaks volumes. I get the impression that Grace has been in a lot of pain and Owen is the one who’s been shouldering it right along with her.

“Me too,” I say, reaching across to take her hand in mine. It’s a small gesture, one that doesn’t come close to the crushing hug I want to give and get back from her. “I have so many questions.”

“Liam, do you want to bring some food down to Leo with me? We just passed by their place before and he’s home alone working in his garage on something.”

Without another word, Liam has his plate filled and Owen has a bag with some stuff packed. Liam leans down and lays a kiss on my hair as he grabs a bag of chips off the table. “You good?”

“Yeah.”

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