Page 130 of Truth Or Dare
“Every. Single. Day.”
I let out a breath, my shoulders relaxing, and my lips curl into a real smile as I picture our future together. “I can’t wait.”
Chapter 38
Flights and goodbyes
Today fucking sucks.
For the past three days, all we’ve done is spend time together. Cooking, playing video games, kissing, making love. Each day has been amazing, but there’s always been this pang of hurt in my chest because we both knew it had an expiration date.
We knew this was coming. We tried to prepare for it, but it doesn’t hurt any less.
My heart feels like it’s been carved open every time I look at Gabi and see the look on her face.
It was supposed to be one summer.
Just one summer where I’d visit her, and then go back.
But so much fucking happened in that time.
The thought of getting on a plane and moving to the other side of the world breaks me apart.
Her eyes meet mine as we walk into the airport, and the pain in them crushes me. My stomach drops, and I force myself to swallow hard.
Dropping my suitcase, I cup her face in my hands. “I’ll be back,” I promise, wanting her to believe it. The moment I graduate, I’m booking a plane and coming straight to her.
“I know,” she says, forcing a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes, which are glassy and wet, breaking my heart.
Fuck.
I can’t.
I can’t handle seeing her cry.
I can’t bear to see her so upset because of me.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close against my chest. Pressing my lips to the top of her head, my heart thumps out of control.
“This isn’t me leaving you, Gabi,” I reassure her. “It’s not like last time.”
She lets out a heavy breath, but remains silent, and thathurts. She doesn’t believe it. She’s afraid I’ll leave and never return, like I did four years ago.
Reaching into her back pocket, she pulls out something old, and blue and my heart goes haywire. My eyes lock on my old navy baseball cap. “You should probably have this back,” she says, heavy breaths leaving her lips.
I take the cap from her, feeling my heart break. I’m not letting her give this to me like it’s a goodbye. Like she’ll never see me again. I open it up, and place it on her head. “You can give it tome when I come back,” I tell her. “Because Iamcoming back for you, Gabi.”
Pulling back slightly, I lift her arm and place a kiss on her wrist, where her tattoo rests, her scars faint beneath them. A sob catches in her throat, but she swallows it down.
“I love you, Gabriella Miller,” I say, keeping my eyes locked on hers. “So much. You have no idea how much.” Tears stream down her face, and my throat tightens.
She nods, lifting her hand to cup my face. “I love you too,” she says. “So much I can’t fucking breathe.” Her voice cracks, and I lose it.
I grab her face in my hands and kiss her. Her lips part, and I glide my tongue over hers, wanting to savor every moment of this kiss, wanting it to last forever.
“Chris,” Gabi mumbles against my lips. “People are staring.”
“I don’t care,” I mutter, shaking my head, pulling her close to me for another deep kiss. “I don’t see anyone but you.”
