Second Chance Boyfriend

first. He may have written it in a note, but he’s never, ever said those words out loud to me. I want him to say them.
    I need him to say the words first.
    Squeezing my eyes shut, I inhale deep, trying to calm my racing heart. Drew drops a lingering kiss to my forehead before he pulls away and climbs out of bed. I assume he’s throwing away the condom I never even realized he slipped on and I roll over on my side, hugging myself as I curl up into a ball.
    My emotions are a jumbled mess. What the hell just happened? We’ve had plenty of sex the last few days but this time I feel like I was hit by a semi truck.
    “Hey.” He rests his hand on my bare shoulder. “Are you all right?”
    “Yeah.” I keep my back to him as he slides into bed with me. He wraps an arm around my middle and hauls me in close, so my back is nestled to his front. He’s still breathing hard too and I snuggle deeper into the pillow, close my eyes on a soft sigh when he starts raking his fingers through my hair.
    I really love it when he does that. And he knows it too.
    “Does it bother you? What, uh, happened to me?”
    The question is so out of nowhere, I turn in his embrace so I can see his face, look into his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
    “What you found out. When you were with me at my dad’s house. Does it bother you?”
    “Of course, it bothers me, but not in the way you think.” I touch his cheek, forcing him to meet my gaze. “I hate what you’ve endured. I hate what she did to you and how it makes you feel guilty. More than anything, I hurt for you. Your pain is still so fresh and I wish I could somehow take it away.”
    “You do take it away. You make me feel like a real person. That it’s okay to be so free like this. Together. Sexually.” He closes his eyes, breathing deep. “You make me feel normal.”
    Here I am being selfish and wishing he would just tell me he loves me and he’s still going through all of these turbulent emotions. Worrying that I’ll think less of him because he’s been abused. Yes, abused. He can call it an affair or whatever the hell else he says about Adele but she molested him.
    I wish he could really see that.
    “Drew.” I brush my fingers through his too-long hair. “No matter what, we’re in this together. I’m not going to run. Whatever we discover, whatever happens, I’m going to stand by your side and support you.”
    He opens his eyes. “I have no more secrets with you. At least none that I know of. I’ve bared my soul to you. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
    “Neither do I,” I confess softly. “Yet here we still are. Together.”
    “Together.” He smiles faintly. “Can I tell you something? It’s been bothering me, that you don’t know this. I have to get it off my chest.”
    Wariness creeps over me and I try to shove it away. “What is it?”
    “I know…” He huffs out a breath. “The day Vanessa died, I know you think I was inside with Adele…but it wasn’t like that. We were having an argument.”
    “Oh?” I try my best to remain neutral but anger grows inside me, like a slow, simmering pot threatening to boil over at any minute.
    “I was telling her she had to leave me alone. She tried her best to convince me to uh, you know, but I refused.” He closes his eyes again, pain etched all over his handsome face. “I just didn’t want you thinking less of me. That I was off fooling around with my stepmom while Vanessa drowned. It wasn’t like that. Not at all.”
    My heart hurts so much. His pain is like a living, breathing thing and I wish I could take it all away. Curling my arms around him, I crush my body to his, scooting up on the mattress so his head can rest on my chest. I press my lips to his forehead and kiss him, the tears flowing freely down my cheeks. “I’m sorry she did this to you. I hate her.”
    He clings to me much like I cling to him, his face pressed against my bare breasts, and I swear I feel dampness on my skin. Like he’s crying. Which only makes me cry more. “I love you,” he murmurs against me. “I love you so much, Fable.”
    My heart cracks in two, both at his pain and at his beautiful, much-needed declaration. “I love you too.”
    I’ve never felt more complete.
     
    Drew
     
    “I told her I loved her.” I blurt out of nowhere.
    Dr. Harris nods, no emotion on her face whatsoever. As usual. “What did Fable say?”
    “She said she loved me too.” I look at my hands, remembering earlier this morning.