“I’ll catch you at the party, there’s some twinning that needs to be had.” I twist my head to kiss Dax before slipping out of his hold, throwing a wink Huxley’s way and grabbing my backpack. Guiding Meg through the back doors to the car park, I stride towards the burnt-orange Nissan Huxley has gifted me with a huge smile. He gave up with me borrowing it without asking and bought the midnight blue version sitting in the next bay along.
Huxley’s relaxed back into college life well, hints of the man I first met becoming more frequent, although he still doesn’t speak without reason to. Switching his degree to psychology has done wonders, his thesis to be based on men’s mental health, and not to mention he’ll be here the same length of time as me now.
“Saw your big routine during half-time. You were incredible! This is cute too,” Meg reaches out to pick a hair from my black vest with yellow lettering and trim. I spin side to side for the matching skirt to dance around my thighs with a smile. I’d never imagined I could be a part of a team, to have a group of people looking out for me and boosting me to the top of a literal pyramid. I’d originally been sceptical of venturing out without Meg, but we have to live our own lives, chase our own happiness.
“You could have come down to sit with us, you know. They don’t blame you for anything.” Meg sighs for a moment and then forces it away with an exaggerated smile, sliding into the car without spilling how torn up over the guys rift she clearly is. Luckily for her, I’m on the case and by Christmas day, the gang will be together again like old times, plus a pair of brunette twins and baby on the way.
“Are you sure you’re alright to party with us tonight?” I drop into the driver’s seat with a frown.
“If you ask me that one more time, I’ll go all Sydney on your ass and disappear.”
“Still no word, huh?” Meg shakes her head with a twist to her lips. Hopefully wherever she is, she has found the freedom she spent years dreaming of. Twisting the key in the ignition, I rev the engine and leave my worries behind in the car park as I drive us in the direction of Waversea to prepare for tonight.
∞∞∞
“Open your eyes,” I say, sitting on Dax’s bed with a wrapped box in my hands. The white paper is decorated with golden basketballs and a gold bow, because I’m fancy like that. Dax’s piercing blue eyes narrow on me suspiciously, his fingers grazing mine as he slowly accepts the gift.
“What’s this for?” His thigh is pressed against mine in black slacks paired with a powder blue shirt. The open buttons revealing most of his chest and his biceps straining inside the material makes my mouth go dry.
“You’ll see,” I bite my lip to focus, putting my libido in the naughty corner. He takes forever peeling the tape back to preserve the paper and I nearly jump across to tear it off myself. Pulling the box inside free, he doesn’t react whilst gazing at the image on the outside which has my stomach fluttering and toes tapping simultaneously.
“You got me a polaroid camera? Why?”
“It’s not a camera,” I grip his face in my hands and pull his focus onto me. “It’s a promise. You’ve been so patient and understanding, given me the room to grow and explore. But I don’t want that anymore. I want to be with you, to fill our rooms with photos of our happiest moments and start our life together. It won’t always be sunshine and rainbows because, well I’m me, but I promise to give you all I have. With everything I am and will ever be, I love you Dax.”
His mouth is on mine the second the words have left my lips, the burn of desire and love scoring a line through my body. I melt against him, weak on his taste and relying on his strength. My walls are down, my soul is bare, my heart syncing to the steady rhythm of his. His lips quiver slightly, pressing against mine firmly before pulling back. He removes the camera from its packaging, lifting it in front of us and presses a kiss to my cheek as the flash blinks brightly.
The next second, a glossy paper is in my hand for shaking until our image becomes clear. Dax’s Afro takes up half of the picture, his bronzed skin a stark contrast to mine but that’s not what strikes me first. My eyes are the boldest blue I’ve ever seen, brimming with joy to match my beaming smile. I didn’t believe love like this could exist, and even if it did, I never would have thought I could manage to find it. This man has quickly become my lifeline, knowing what I need before I do and providing me with a life I didn’t think I deserved.
“Come on, we’d better show our faces from at least an hour or Garrett will never stop moaning about it. Then I’ll be ripping your clothes off and have you screaming my name.” His low, husky voice has my core clenching and I briefly wonder if Garrett’s bitching would be worth staying in here all night. However, I’m fairly certain he would come looking for us and not hesitate to drag us downstairs butt naked.
Walking from the room hand in hand, the music begins to thump downstairs and a throng of people burst through the door.
