Page 15 of Endless Love

“We should see each other more often.”

“I don’t think Alexander finds it as entertaining as you to spend time with us.” Damien sure enjoys getting back at him. It will be a recurring thing.

“No, man. I said that there should be boundaries.”

“Better send us an e-mail with your hard limits then,” I deadpan.

I have no idea where that came from. But as Damien and Sophia almost choke on their laughs, Alex’s eyes roll out of their sockets as he eyes me.

“Who are you?”

“I get it. It’s a sensitive issue.”

“You are such a freak. How did I not notice it sooner?”

He shakes his head, hiding his amusement. But this is Alex, playful one moment, a contradiction the next.

Chapter Eight

BRIA

After finishing our meal and saying our goodbyes, we head outside. The sun peeks through thin clouds, and a ruffle of wind musses my hair as we stroll toward home.

“You just shocked Alexander for life,” Damien says, satisfaction etched in his features.

“He’ll get over it. He’s really only seen one side of me, the one that circumstances forced me to become.”

“This will sound stupid, but I’m glad he doesn’t know what I do.”

“Damien . . .”

“I’m not jealous, but more egotistical.” I crane my neck and an eyebrow at him, and he admits, “Fuck, I’m both.”

“Weirdo.”

We grin at each other. I inhale happiness and exhale hope. We are young, in love, and have a life ahead of us.

Minutes into our walk, my steps falter, my chest caving under an elephant stomping, and Damien halts, and I remind myself my healing is a process.

“Let’s take a break. The park is just ahead of us.”

We find a bench and take a seat, craning our necks toward the sun.

“I’ll get us something to drink.” He bends to kiss me. I soak in the summer rays, leaning back.

Damien returns with two bottles of water, and I gulp it as if I just finished a marathon. His eyes crinkle in amusement at me.

“What, some inappropriate jokes on my condition running through your head?”

“You would need to have a condition, don’t you think?”

“I’ll rectify it and go back to swimming.”

I nod more to myself, and he throws his head back, “From all the potential sports, you pick the one that exposes half of your body.”

My core shakes with laughter at his sullen answer. Love knows no reason at all, of this I am sure like I’m absolutely convinced I love this man completely, the way he is, perfectly imperfect.

“You’re unbelievable.”

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