Page 52 of Diverge

“Then I met Nate, and things started progressing so much quicker than I ever anticipated. I never thought I could open myself up to someone again, but I did.”

“I’m glad you did. Even though it fucking burned me seeing you two together, I’m happy he brought you out of your shell and showed you how to love again. I will forever owe him that, for fixing what I broke,” he admits.

“I know you still love him, and that probably won’t change for a while, if ever. He made you feel alive, and I get that, but I will not lose another moment of us being together because of someone else. I don’t care that you love him because you also love me, and I know the love you have for me has never faded from your heart.” His words cut me deep, but they also plant flowers in the grooves of my broken heart.

“Sometimes people are only meant to be in our lives for a season, but me and you were never meant to be apart. I’m here now, and I promise I’ll never leave you again. You’ll never have to be alone again.”

He places his lips softly on mine. Threading his fingers through my hair, he deepens the kiss as his tongue explores my mouth. His hand grips the hair at the base of my neck as he pulls me closer into him, our bodies pressed up against each other. Breaking the kiss, he looks deep into my eyes as my breath shakes.

“Cross my soul.”

His last words send a flutter of hope into my chest, and each time he kisses me, holds me, it makes me feel less broken.

Chapter Sixteen

Billie

Smiling to myself,the ice in my glass clinking as I mix my iced coffee, I think about the concert last week. I can’t believe I got to see Slipknot live with my best friend, my first love. All these years later, and he still knows me better than I know myself. I watch as Finn smiles at me from across the island bench. He stayed over last night after work. We had some dinner and some wine, watched too much TV, and eventually ended up falling asleep in each other’s arms on the couch.

“What are you thinking about?” He sips his coffee as he studies me as “Sugar” by Sleep Token filters through my TV on Spotify.

My smile grows wider. “Corey Taylor.”

He chuckles.

“Ah, right.” He nods. “Of course.”

––––––––

Ilaugh. “I’m thinkingabout the concert.” Smiling, I bring the straw to my lips. “I had so much fun.”

“Still the Billie I remember.” He walks around the island bench and leans in for a kiss. Hovering close to my lips, he whispers, “Still a hardcore metalhead.” He mocks as his lips softly cover mine as I smile.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I stand as he presses my hips into the island bench. I thread my fingers through his hair and pull him closer to me, our bodies flush with one another. His mouth crashes into mine, sending a jolt of electricity through to my core. I pant through the kisses as our hands explore each other’s bodies like it was the first time we had ever kissed. His hand travels up my oversized shirt, landing on my naked skin, the warmth of his hand sending shivers down my spine. Instinctively I remove his white T-shirt, revealing his perfectly untouched skin. My hands roam his hard chest, down to his abs, and down further to the hem of his sweats. Finn freezes and pulls slightly away from me, resting his forehead on mine.

“Are you sure?” he whispers. “You said you wanted to go slow.” I know what I said, but with the way I’m feeling now, I don’t care. I need him. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long, practically half my life. I can’t wait any longer.

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