Page 154 of Tiny Fractures

God, we’re both getting way too worked up right now and there are people in the house. I just know we’re going to get walked in on any second now, so I force myself to stop and push back a little.

Ronan blinks at me, his eyes hooded and glossy with want, his breathing shallow. My hands are still on his stomach, touching his exposed skin.

“I don’t think this is a good time. Shane and your dad are just right over there,” I say, trying to catch my breath. There’s a mix of disappointment and frustration in my voice, and I know he feels the same.

“You’re probably right.” With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he glides his thumb slowly across my hard nipple once more before retrieving his hands from under my shirt. I giggle, kissing him softly. “Just hold on a second before you get off my lap,” he says. “I need a minute.”

I giggle again; I can still very much feel his erection between my legs and I wish we were alone, wish I could feel all of him right now.

“I love you,” I say between kisses.

He hugs me against him tightly. “I love you, too.”

The happiness that surges through me whenever Ronan says he loves me is indescribable. I had been so afraid that I would never get the chance to tell him how I really felt about him, would never hear him say he loved me. But not only did he wake up, he also made sure to tell me he loves me and has felt that way for a while. It didn’t require much of me to reply with the same three words because, much like him, I knew I had loved him for weeks by then. I was only ever waiting for the right moment to tell him.

“Here,” I say, and move my hands around the back of my neck, undoing the clasp of his necklace. “I think you should have this back.” I place the thin chain in his left hand.

“Thank you for keeping this safe for me,” he says, his voice low, contemplative as he puts his necklace around his neck.

Frank, Shane, and Steve walk into the living room then, and I slide off Ronan’s lap, but not without purposely grinding my hips against his groin one more time as payback. Everyone is oblivious, but Ronan grins at me. God, I hope we get the chance to be alone very soon.

But we don’t, at least not tonight. A few minutes later, Zack, Vada, Summer, and Tori show up, laden with food and drinks, and we end up hanging out in the living room, spread out across the couches, armchair, and the floor while we watch some random movie. We eat, with the exception of Ronan, whose appetite has still not returned. Even though he’s wearing that dark-green hoodie today, I can tell his clothes are looser than they were six weeks ago. I’m snuggled up against him on the couch, his right arm draped over my shoulder as I lean against his chest, always aware of his injuries, always careful not to hurt him. I feel him fall asleep after a while, and I don’t move, not wanting to wake him.

Shane puts on another movie, and we all enjoy each other’s company, relishing the fact that we’re all together, all in one piece. Sort of.

Saturday, October 9th

Cat

My phone rings at ten the next morning, and I smile when I see Ronan’s name on my screen.

“Good morning, sweet boy,” I say, stretching in bed. I had been lounging around, scrolling through my phone for a few minutes and hadn’t actually gotten out of bed yet.

“Hey baby.” He sounds tired, like he didn’t sleep well.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, sitting up in bed.

“Fine,” he says, though I don’t believe him.

I knit my brows together. “You sound really tired. Bad night?”

“Yeah, kind of. It’s just a little weird being home. But I’m fine,” he adds quickly.

I get up and walk out of my room and into the bathroom, where I turn on the shower.

“What are you doing?” he asks. I bet he can hear the water running in the background.

I decide to play along. “I’m about to get out of these itchy clothes of mine and stand naked under the shower, getting all wet and soapy.”

“Is that so?” he asks, his voice low, husky.

“Uh-huh,” I say. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing I can do at the moment, but I will get to see you later today, right?”

“That’s the plan,” I say, excitement bubbling in my chest with the knowledge that I will get to spend some quality time with him. “Did Steve talk to you? We were thinking about heading to the beach, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to get around.”

“I’ll be fine as long as I stay out of the sand. Just hang out on the deck with me,” he says, then adds, “or maybe in one of the bedrooms. I’m desperate to get you alone.”

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