Page 114 of Fallen Stars

The topic I’ve spent the better part of four weeks avoiding is thrust center stage,by me.

Tymber slowly turns to face me, his expression guarded. “Levi, I…” He lifts a hand to the back of his neck and squeezes. His gaze falls to the floor for one, two, three breaths before meeting mine again. “I’ll never keep shit from you.” Dropping his hand, he crosses his arms over his chest. “You’re like a brother.”

I wait for him to continue, but several minutes pass in silence.

“But…”

Something akin to familial love passes over his face. “I don’t want to be a source of pain.”

The back of my eyes sting. “Appreciate it.” I sniffle and swallow past the sudden swell of emotion. “But I need this.” I roll my eyes. “If therapy has taught me anything, it’s that I need to conquer my demons in order to heal and move forward.”

Tymber tips his head toward the couch and chairs shoved together. “We should sit down.”

THIRTY-TWO

LEVI

“How was work, dear?”Oliver asks in a teasing tone as I slide into the passenger seat.

Without hesitation, I laugh. And Oliver… melts at the sight.

Damn, it feels good to laugh.

A hint of a smile on my lips, I shake my head. “Busy. Cathartic.”

“Busy?”

“Mm-hmm.” I buckle my seat belt. “Spent most of the day rearranging my office.”

He steers the car out of the lot, then takes my hand. “Definitely busy.” Weaving our fingers together, he gives them a gentle squeeze. “Get everything where you want it?”

“No. I did make progress, though.”

His thumb strokes the length of mine, up and down, over and over. “Good. Can’t wait to see it when you’re done.”

Leaning into the headrest, I roll my head to look at him.Reallylook at him.

His eyes may be on the road, but I know he sees me in his periphery. When the corner of his mouth quirks up, he proves me right.

Our relationship may not have picked up where it left off in July, but I don’t doubt we will find our way back to that version of us.

Time and patience.

Seven years ago, Oliver came into my life. Unbeknownst to him, he consumed every thought, fantasy, and future wish. Before either of us gave our feelings a voice, I knew—deep in my bones—Oliver and I would eventually be together.

Even then, I felt the way his eyes studied my profile, the column of my throat, my ass when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.

Whenever Oliver is near, I pay attention. Always have. Always will.

Back then, I concealed my frequent stares with dimly lit rooms. Masked my desires by talking about anything other than sex and relationships. Disguised my yearning for more than friendship but kept him closer than anyone else in my life.

Now, I ogle him without shame. Touch him without fear of consequence. Love him out in the open.

Our physical relationship may not be what it was months ago, but we will find our way back to that place. With Oliver, love is timeless. Limitless. Eternal.

Although my lips won’t form the words since my return, I love Oliver Moss.

Moj zauvjek.

---