Page 75 of The Forever Play

Shuffling to the edge of the couch, I notice his jacket.

Tears burn as I pick it up, pressing it against my nose and inhaling deep. Inhaling him.

The smell is so familiar. I’ve always loved his cologne.

I want to take this jacket to bed with me, cuddle it like a teddy bear while my tears soak into my pillow.

He left.

I asked too much.

He doesn’t love me.

He—

The front door swings open, and I spin with a gasp as it clips shut behind Zander. My heart takes off, spiking uncontrollably as he stares at me with an intensity I’ve never seen before.

He’s back.

He’s here.

Does that mean…?

My body starts to yearn with this overpowering pulse that reverberates right down to my soul, and a force I can’t counter moves my feet for me when he strides into the room with a purpose that’s palpable. I barely have time to breathe before he takes my head in his hands and starts kissing me.

His lips are hot and hungry, his tongue owning mine as he cinches me around the waist and lifts me off the floor.

My legs automatically wrap around him, my Tigger tail swinging as I return home to the one place that could always make me fly.

Zander.

My Zander.

Our tongues meet in a hot tango that’s all-consuming. I cling to him, needy and wanting, unabashedly desperate.

Tipping his head, he deepens the kiss while my hands glide around his neck and I whimper against into his mouth.

His arm around me tightens, his other hand findingits place in the back of my hair and lightly fisting my long locks.

Tugging me back, he stares into my eyes and whispers, “I love you.” His lips brush against mine before he murmurs, “I never stopped. I couldn’t stop.”

CHAPTER 28

ZANDER

Walking back through Sienna’s front door suddenly seemed like the easiest decision in the world. With her in my arms, everything feels right again—whole, complete, crystal clear.

There is no other reason but her.

No other purpose.

Football is a dream, but she’s my soul.

I can’t enjoy any of it without her, and so I walked through her door with one intention.

Whether I deserve to be here or not is another question. For now, all I can do is assure her how much I love her. How I’d choose her any day of the week… the way I should have done before I left for Kelsey U.

“I love you,” she whimpers back, her words more like soft cries. I can feel the tears skimming down her cheeks. Kissing them away, I nibble my lips across her skin, walking her around the couch in search of a room.

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