Page 38 of Just Is Not Enough

“You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m glad you shared this with me.”

“Trauma dumping right after you said, ‘I love you’ for the first time probably wasn’t what you were expecting from me.” Luke chuckles, shaking his head at himself.

“I guess I’ll have to keep telling you how much I love you until the trauma is a long-gone memory. I love you, Luke,” I say, kissing his temple. “I love you, Luke,” his cheek. “I love you, Luke,” his shoulder. “Almost gone or should I continue?”

Luke twists his body, facing me to the best of his ability in the small space, making water slosh around and onto the floor. “Never stop.” His mouth takes complete control of mine. The fervor behind it, physically and emotionally, feels like molten lava burning beneath my skin attempting to escape, taking my soul with it to bring it home. To him.

He’s in love with me.

One Week Later

Please,makethemstop.

“Ladies, please. You’re giving me a headache already and we haven’t even gotten to the diner yet,” I plead with Faith and Lanie to stop bickering. They hardly ever get on each other’s nerves, but Lanie leaving her clothes in the dryer overnight has Faith’s panties in a bunch for some odd reason.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand why you’re so annoyed by it. I got them out first thing this morning, didn’t I?”

Lanie’s weird way of apologizing does the trick or maybe Faith is finally done with her mood swing. “Fine. I’m sorry, too.”

“Do you still love me?” Lanie jokes, making sure her best friend knows she’s forgiven for her moodiness.

“That’s a dumb question. Always.” I catch Faith rolling her eyes in my rear-view mirror. I know the ice breaks a little more, seeing the corner of her mouth rise when Lanie reaches from the passenger seat to grab her hand.

I pull into the diner’s lot, parking next to Ender’s car where he and Connor are waiting for us. I can hear them bickering through the closed windows.

We’re surrounded by a bunch of children.

“I’m starving. Hurry let’s go.” Ender seems to be in a good mood today. He’s actually smiling, well sort of. At least for him it’s more of a smile than a frown.

We get seated and order right away. Connor and Lanie fill the air with chatter right away, as usual. Faith is on her phone looking annoyed, reading text messages. Even Ender is on his phone, but at least he seems content. Is that a real smile on his face, now?

“Guys, I want to make a reservation at Stonewood’s for a Saturday a week or two after they are opened. Who wants to go with me?” I interrupt everyone’s activities.

“I’ve already promised Jackson and Dakota I’d go with them and their aunts the weekend after they open. Can I take a rain check?” Lanie gives an apologetic smile.

I haven’t been introduced to the aunts yet, so I understand why I wasn’t invited with them. It caught my eye that Faith perked up from her phone for a split second when Lanie mentioned who she was going with.

“Faith do you want to come with me?” I bring my attention to her.

“Yeah, sounds like fun.” She puts her phone down and fully joins the conversation.

“You know I’m coming whether you like it or not.” Connor shares, unprompted.

“That goes without saying. Ender what about you?”

“You don’t think we’d be distracting them?”

I noticed he used ‘them,’ not Luke. “I thinktheywould like to see us both there.” Luke accidently let it slip the other day that Gabe has been texting back-and-forth with Ender lately. He apologized, not liking that he was spreading other people’s business. I haven’t mentioned it because neither has Ender. He will when he’s ready.

Ender nods his head, “Okay, sounds good. Count me in.” He seems pleased with his decision. It makes my heart happy for him. He deserves someone special.

Our food comes with perfect timing when he starts complaining again about his stomach growling. The rest of the meal is filled with laughter with the closest people in my life, sans Luke.

Since our confessions, we have been spending a lot of time together. I’ve slept over at his place almost the entire week. He gave me an extra key by mid-week, figuring it was better than waiting at home or in my car until he got home. I’ve fallen asleep in his bed with Fred every night since. He and I have become best buddies. Luke doesn’t even wake me up any longer. Instead sliding in next to me, pulling me to him for snuggles. I have to admit he really is the best snuggler. Inevitably, we wake up not being able to keep our hands of each other. I’m not complaining at all. Being inside Luke is my new favorite thing.

His family dynamic was a little shocking at first, given how well-adjusted all three of them seem. I don’t know how I would’ve turned out if my parents weren’t as affectionate as they are to us. I see how Ender is most of the time. That kind of trauma, albeit emotional not physical, Thank Goddesses, still affects so much of you. It can change who you are as a person. I’m glad that behavior didn’t sink it’s teeth into Luke.

Reminder to thank his aunts.

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