Page 12 of Love Harder

So that’s what I did.

I ran fifteen kilometers that day, and halfway through, Ghost replied.

I was so scared to see his response. I was certain he would run away like his predecessors. I wasn’t worth the hassle.

I was high maintenance.

I was drama.

Or so I was told anyway.

But what I read…what I read was the moment I knew Ghost was different from any other man before him.

You haven’t fucked anything up. Don’t say that. You’re literally the sweetest human being I’ve ever met. You’re so caring, and I find it so beautiful you accept me for me. I don’t want to stop kissing you. You kiss me so passionately, like I’ve always wanted to be kissed. This is how I am the majority of the time. I’ll be upfront; I can get so caught up and can’tmanage work and my personal life. But I am trying to do what I can. I still want to try with you! I’m sending you big kisses, and yes, I still want to fuck the bejesus out of you.

That right there is a man who, regardless of his fears and anxieties, put me at ease. He was open and honest and assured me everything would be all right.

I needed to accept this for what it was, no matter how hard that was, and let nature take its course. I needed to trust in the universe because what you put out there is what you get back.

So I meditated.

I manifested.

I did anything to help clear my heart and mind.

Things eventually settled, and then, three days later, we had our date.

I was so nervous.

I consulted with Mötley on what to wear.

We decided cute but casual.

I wore a black little romper, showing off my leg tattoos which I know he liked. My makeup was simple, but my signature red lips were the star of the show.

Ghost knocked on my front door.

I opened it and saw he had red roses in his hand. He had on black jeans and a black shirt, which complemented his three-day growth.

He offered me the flowers and kissed my cheek.

He smelled so damn good.

Once the roses were in water, he drove us to a vegan restaurant. He had told me he was organizing it all. I was beyond impressed. He tried everything I suggested, regardless of the fact that he wasn’t vegan. I don’t force my beliefs on anyone, but it touched me he would try something new, knowing how important being a vegan is to me.

Ghost wasn’t afraid of PDA. He held my hand. He kissed me briefly as he got up to use the restroom. And he made sure everyone knew I was there with him.

This was such foreign ground for me, but I soon learned the rules, and I liked everything he was throwing down.

When we left, he held my hand and kissed me under an arch of lights. It was the perfect first date. He took me home, but I was surprised when he didn’t come inside.

He had to work early, and I respected that. His work ethic was admirable. I also liked that this, whatever it was, wasn’t based on sex.

He did yank me onto his lap and kiss the ever-living fuck out of me before I went inside, unable to wipe the smile clean from my face.

Ghost came over during the week.

The message he sent a day before made me giddy:

---