Page 97 of Fragile

Leaning forward, I brush my lips lightly against his. “Show me how you love me, Miles.”

It’s like an invisible thread pulls us together, and when our lips finally meet again, it’s filled with all the emotions we’ve been holding in. The kiss starts delicate, almost cautious, but in a heartbeat, it becomes something untamed—teeth, tongues, and a longing that’s finally fulfilled and I’m back on his lap, back in his arms again.

The world outside fades away, leaving just the two of us. And as we fall onto the bed, lips never parting, the only thing I can think is that this is where I’m meant to be. With him.

The rest of the night blurs into a haze of tender whispers, shared breaths, and the kind of love that’s been years in the making. Finally, after so long, we’re not just falling—we’re in freefall together, and when we land, it feels like home

Chapter forty-five

Miles

“Fuck,” I shout, cursingthe tape that’s currently sticking my fucking fingers together for the hundredth time. I’ve somehow in the last few days become the guy who scrapbooks non-stop, and I can’t say I like it much, mostly because it’s fiddly and messy and Quinn was right—I don’t have an artistic bone in my body, apparently. But I can’t mess this up. Not after everything she showed me from her scrapbook. Pages and pages of how intertwined we’ve been our whole lives and how long she’d felt more for me. I didn’t have words, I still don’t, hence my situation.

My phone buzzes on my nightstand, and I see my girls name pop up.

Quinn

Good luck today. Remember if you need rescuing, crow like a bird.

I smile at her message.

Miles

Thanks Queenie, I feel like I might puke.

Queenie

10/10 don’t recommend that unless it’s all over your dad’s suit.

Miles

I love you, y’know.

Queenie

You can tell me that as often as you like.

Taking a deep inhale, I lock my phone and stand, stretching out my good arm, and remove my sling slowly. I can’t actually straighten the arm because the break is just behind my elbow, and all I want to do is stretch it out and lie on my bed like a starfish. But sometimes having the support off helps to rotate my shoulder, if nothing else.

I need to change out of my old t-shirt and make myself look a little more put together, because today I face the dean of the school. Today, I have to explain why I did what I did and how I plan to repent for my actions. That, and I also have to hand over the name of the dealer because word got around, and he knows it’s on campus. I don’t agree with what Levi is doing, but I also don’t know how it’s going to affect me if I tattle on him.

My phone buzzes again, but this time, it’s not Quinn.

Hudson has added you to “Textual Healing” group chat.

Opening the notification with a laugh, I see Seb, Hudson, and Jay are all in the chat too.

Jay

Do we need another group chat, Huds?

Hudson

Yes we do, because it’s criminal we don’t have one with just the guys.

Jay

I have three different group chats with you now, it feels like overkill.

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