Page 66 of Free to Breathe
“Living without you drove me crazy. I’ve learned to adapt to everything but that.”
“Then how do we seal the deal?” I can feel the acceleration of Corinna’s heartbeat beneath my hand.
“Like this.” And I lower my mouth to hers to taste her once again.
Talking makes way for other types of communication, as our lips engage and our hands reach for purchase on each other.
31
Corinna
“They’re going to roast me on a spit, Corinna,” Colby says as we make our way up to the main farm building holding hands.
Is it wrong I want to walk in and raise our joined hands before shaking my hips in a victory dance? In the midst of one of the most heinously emotional weeks in a long time, I’m secure about one thing. Colby’s got a hold on me. He wants to hold me. And that’s mighty fine by me.
We’d been secluded all day when my phone pinged with a text from Cassidy.Family dinner at the barn at eight. I can only assume the lack of movement from Colby’s Jeep started the family rumor mill flying. I’m actually more impressed that Ali and Keene stayed away from the house. Unless Keene thought I was systematically chopping Colby to bits with a meat cleaver, and was just waiting for the high sign to come dispose of the body.
I shrug. It makes no never mind to me. I’ve always been an ask for forgiveness later person, which is why my news sent the family into a tailspin this week. After dealing with the blow of being sold into a sex trafficking ring, then the death of my parents, finding the brain tumor, and losing Colby so close together, I threw life the middle finger and began dancing on my own grave. Who was there to stop me but me? Suddenly I realize I no longer want that kind of life. I want the long game. And maybe, just maybe, I want it with this man.
Colby swings me around in a circle. “Where did you go?”
“Just daydreaming,” I answer honestly. I’m dizzy from the speed of the spin, but I don’t tell him that. I want the freedom to just be for a little while longer before the reality of my situation intrudes back in.
“Am I starring in them?”
I can’t help but smile. “If I decide to share them, I’ll let you know,” I sass.
He drops his lips to mine. Holding me steady, his fingers tangle in mine. In my mind’s eye, I’m capturing this summer moment for exactly what it is: perfection. When you realize life may cheat you out of forever, you savor each flavor of happy it blesses you with.
Our kiss is interrupted by clapping. As our lips separate, I turn my head to the side to see Ali applauding. “Damn, I’ve only wanted this for how many years? Keene, I told you they were working it out, didn’t I?”
“He’d better treat her right, or I’ll be kicking his ass,” Keene threatens.
I’m oddly touched. Pulling away from Colby, I rush Keene and launch myself at him. “You were such a prick, damn you. How am I supposed to deal with all this sweet?”
Keene’s arms clasp me tightly as he lifts me off my feet. “Just by being you, Cori. By loving my sister, my woman, and my daughter as much as you do. You’d better be as much of a fighter as the rest of them. I’m too damn fond of your throwing arm to let you go.” Keene’s alluding to my throwing a pie of whipped cream in his face for being a dick when he was courting Ali. The memory has me tossing my head back with laughter. “Now, let me off the hook to give Hunt grief.”
I clasp his scowling face in my hands. “Not a chance.”
He drops me to my feet. “He hurt you.”
“He made it better.”
“You were sobbing last night,” Keene semi-roars.
“He kissed it better today,” I tell him smugly.
“I’ll never understand you Freeman women.” Keene lets me go to take his daughter from Ali’s arms. “I’m taking Kalie, baby. This way, I’ll have less of an urge to punch Hunt on my way in.”
“I heard that,” Colby calls out. He’s standing back, giving us our moment with a huge smile.
Yeah, I can see it all in those gray eyes. The long game. The question is, will I make it? Shaking my head, I turn to my sister. Ali’s thoughtful expression ping-pongs back and forth between Colby and me. “How much did you really talk about?”
“Everything, Ali.” I lay heavy emphasis on the first word.
“Wow. So, you talked about what hurt you so badly?”
I nod. I laid into him about that the other day.
