Page 146 of Possess Me! (I Want You To)

I was stupidly optimistic.

I was the kinda guy who’d attach himself to a phone pole if he thought it looked at him twice.

I was bound to make mistakes, lots of them.

But that was okay.

Because Prudence liked me anyway.

I liked me anyway.

He’d taught me that.

I didn’t want to be a coward anymore.

He deserved better.

And I refused to let this be another mistake I made.

“What’s going on in your head?” Prudence asked, shocking me out of my thoughts. He released my hip with one hand to thread in the back of my hair. His fingers tickled under the hem of my cap. He smelled like home. He felt like home. I buried my nose in the soft skin at the side of his neck, my eyes burning.

This was maybe, possibly the stupidest—bravest thing I would ever do.

My laugh wobbled. Prudence’s grip in my hair tightened.

“Pinkie?” He hummed questioningly. I squeezed my eyes shut tight, fingers catching in his shirt.

“I don’t want you to go,” I said, so quietly I wasn’t sure he’d be able to hear. “Pru—”

I forced my head back to look at him. Really, look at him.

His pale blue eyes flickered with the flames of emotion. His lips were drawn thin, his brow lowered as he stared right back, unafraid to make eye contact with me. The sunlight glinted on his eyebrow piercing and I took a fortifying breath. The grip he had on my hip, and in my hair grew tighter.

“I know I said I wouldn’t tell you to stay.” My lips wobbled, and tears spilled free. God, I was a sweaty, sobby mess. Prudence’s hand slid from my hair till he cupped the side of my jaw, his thumb tracing gentle circles through the wetness. I sniffled. “And I’m not—”

“Then what are you doing?”

That was a good question.

What was I doing?

I’d never felt this way for anyone. Like if he stopped breathing, so would I. I’d kill for him. Die for him. Die with him.

“I said I wouldn’t tell you to stay. But, I never said I wouldn’t ask.” Maybe it was selfish. Maybe it was brave. Maybe it was stupid. Maybe it was wildly optimistic. But Prudence liked all those things about me, so it was worth a chance. “So let me—”

“Luca—”

“Stay with me.” I blurted, and my face scrunched up as I made an attempt at a reassuring smile. “I’m not commanding you—” I sucked in a ragged breath. “I’m asking—So please—” Jee-sus I was a mess. Why the hell would he want someone like me. “Please stay with me.”

“Why?” His brow lowered, his eyes molten hot as he waited.

It didn’t escape me that our positions had reversed from the conversation in the car earlier.

“Because I—” Another wobbly breath. My hands were sweaty, shaky. My knees threatened to give out. Vanity was still standing to Prudence’s left, and when I caught her eye she had a satisfied, relieved smile on her lips. Chastity’s gaze tickled the back of my head as I laughed, wetly. “Because I—”

“You what?” There was something behind Prudence’s words. Anticipation. Fear. Excitement.

“I love you, Prudence.” Shit. As soon as the words were out, the weight that had been wearing me down to nothing, finally lifted. I could stand taller. My hands no longer needed to shake. “I love you,” I repeated, stronger this time, steadier. Fresh tears made him blurry, so I quickly tried to blink them away. “Stay with me.” It wasn’t a command, we both knew that. “Stay with me and I swear—I swear, I’ll love you. I’ll love you every day. Even when you’re cranky. Even when we fight. Even when you steal my fries. Even when the sky is gray, and the sun seems a million miles away.” Wind whispered between us, dancing from the tree line surrounding the parking lot. “And when we’re old—” Prudence snorted. “When I’m old—” I corrected myself, “—and gray, and wrinkly all over…” I took in a shuddering breath. “We’ll go together.”

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