Page 1 of Why Not Forever?

Prologue

Vic – 7 years ago

Iwaketolightkissespeppering my face. I smile, then laugh as he continues, finally pushing him away as I blink my eyes open. Tanner is right there, his deep brown eyes sparkling with happiness behind his glasses.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he says.

“You’re so annoying,” I say, but my smile tells him I’m lying.

Tanner grins down at me. “Yes,” he says, kissing me again. “But you love it.”

It took me two years to get here. I’m not the fastest to open up, especially not with men. And while I’ve said his charm and over-the-top flirting have been annoying, we both know how much I actually enjoy it. We’d gone to a graduation party last night, gotten a little drunk, and Tanner had cornered me. “I have a confession,” he’d said. “I’ve liked you since the moment we met, and I need you to know, before we move on with our lives and never see each other again.” He’d looked so nervous, but he’d continued anyway. “Is it possible that you feel the same way?”

I hadn’t answered. Instead, I’d kissed him, and we’d ended up back here, in my bed.

“I made you something.” He holds up a white paper rose on a green pipe cleaner.

I laugh again as I take it. “You had a pipe cleaner and paper with you?”

“Yes. I’m going to visit Juliet today. Which is why I woke you. I have to leave. I promised to take her to brunch.”

Juliet is Tanner’s nine-year-old niece. He currently has ten nieces and nephews. It’s still difficult keeping them all straight. Now that I’ve finally decided to give this a shot, I’ll have more opportunity to remember who is who. I might get him to draw me a chart.

“You could come if you want,” he says.

I shake my head. “You go. This is your special thing with her. Maybe I’ll come next time.”

He trails his finger along the side of my cheek. “Can I take you out tonight? On a date, I mean. I want to take you on a date.”

I spin the paper rose between my fingers.

“You can take me on a date,” I say.

“One condition,” he says. “I want you to tell Spencer about us.”

I sigh, sliding away from him to get out of bed, ignoring my nudity. Tanner wouldn’t be the first person to be jealous of my relationship with Spencer. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

He catches my wrist before I can stand. I turn to meet his eyes.

“That’s not why I want you to tell him,” he says.

“Why then? Why does it matter who knows?”

“I don’t care about anyone else. But Spencer is your best friend. You tell him everything. He was the first person you told about being bi.”

I blink. “How do you know that?”

He looks at me like that’s a stupid question. I guess it is. Spencer and I have been friends since we were five years old. Who else would I have told first about my sexuality?

“I want you to tell him we’re dating. Because if you do, I’ll know it’s real to you.” He cups my face, drawing me closer. “Because it is very real to me.”

His lips meet mine in a sweet kiss. I move closer, wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him over me as I lay back on the bed. The kiss turns hot and his hand travels along my naked skin, lingering on my hip as we make out like teenagers.

Eventually, he groans. “Vic,” he says, drawing out the vowel. “I have to go.”

“Go then,” I say. “I’m not stopping you.”

He kisses me once more before lifting himself onto his arms, creating distance between his clothed body and my naked one.

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