Page 59 of Pretty Black

I followed the directions the girl gave me to the outdoor area, spotting him before he did me.

I stalled, heart in my throat.

Transfixed.

How did one person devastate me in all the best ways?

He left me breathless without a word, and I’d never stop orbiting the sun or Iris Rose.

Iris lifted his gaze, and a smile lit up his face.

My heart stopped in my chest as he got to his feet and jogged towards me. I paused in my step, letting him come to me. When he reached me, I caught him in my arms and spun him around. He wrapped his arms and legs around me, cupping my face to kiss me.

“Do you believe in fate?” I breathed into his mouth.

“If it involves you, I do.” He kissed me harder, pressing his eyes closed and hiding the pain he carried. But the wear of the last two days etched in the lines on his face.

“Existing without you is hell,” I whispered between kisses.

“Hell is everywhere you’re not by my side.”

“I’ve missed you so immensely,” I admitted through tears.

“I don’t know how I went so long without you. I don’t ever want to do it again.”

“Deal.”

Someone cleared their throat way too close to us. I glanced over to find the supervisor standing there with arms crossed.

“No touching the patients, or I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Iris begrudgingly unwound himself from me.

She nodded and turned her back, and I grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him to me again. He laughed, and I licked it from his lips.

“I love tasting your joy.” I breathed him in, taking him into my lungs like I could keep him there after I was forced to leave.

“Let’s go find somewhere more private to sit. I don’t want you to stop touching me.”

“Is that allowed?” I asked as he slipped his hand in mine and led me off.

“I don’t really care.” He collected a blanket off the bench, and we walked to a set of trees providing some shade. He spread the blanket out and gestured for me to sit.

When I did, he laid his head in my lap and pressed his face into my stomach. I pushed my fingers into his hair, chest aching. “Are you okay?”

“No,” he whispered.

“What can I do?”

He shook his head. “Nothing…but don’t stop touching me.”

“I will until they yell at me again.” I tugged at his hair. I wanted to take it all away.

“I can’t believe he wouldn’t let you come yesterday.”

“I know. Has it been horrible? Have they said anything about the evaluation?” I wanted to know everything, but I paced my questions to not overwhelm him.

“It’s not as bad as the last time. The director of the place isn’t bad. She seems like she cares. She told me as long as I talked to her, she’d let me go. I don’t know if I should believe her. I hate that I even have to say that, but it’s how I feel.” He rolled to his back, looking up at me. “But I’m not sure it’s only her opinion. I think the judge still has to sign off on it. I don’t know. They tried to explain all my rights to me today since it was court-ordered. I guess it’s different, and I may have to wait for a hearing.”

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