Heather M. Orgeron

“Sometimes adults need a break. End of discussion,” I say firmly.
“Well, I’m done fishing. End of fishing,” he pipes, letting go of his rod. I catch it just before it hits the water as he stomps past me.

I love you. I live for you. But I know I have to start living for me.
I need to know my life means something. To feel the adrenaline rush through my veins—a rush I’ve only felt out here and when I held you in my arms.
Scottie, you are without a doubt the love of my life, and I want nothing more than for you to have everything your heart desires. Unfortunately, we both know that can’t be. You were forced to choose, and you chose your family. I could never fault you for that. I understand, even though it hurts.
Consequently, I don’t get to make a choice. My country wins by default. But if I’d had the chance to choose, it would have been you.
For as long as I live, it will always be you.
Forever yours,
Briggs

“There’s a reason we were thrown into that bunker together. I have to believe that. You were destined to be a part of my life. You’ve changed me. I need you to know that. For you to know how incredible you really are. In another lifetime, I know we’d have been perfect together.”

He hangs his head. “Look, we were both drunk and horny, and while the location may not have been ideal—”

“It was a dumpster.”

He clears his throat, and it takes everything in me not to recoil from the spittle that lands on my cheek.

“And you like…put makeup on dead bodies?”

“They don’t bite,” I assure him.

“My wish is to be placed dead center of the mantle…where his next lover will have to pick me up and dust me. My wish is not to be forgotten.”

That there really was such a thing as fate. That the two of us really were destined to be together. That it wasn’t all just a bunch of bullshit that our parents had been feeding us since we were babies. I wished that they hadn’t planted those romantic ideas in my head. That it didn’t hurt so much to love him. Most of all, I wished that he’d loved me back

If I’d known then the way the rest of that trip would go, I’d have fallen to my knees and laid my heart at her feet. I’d have made a complete fucking fool of myself and risked it all before it was too late

Oh my God, Colton...Thank youuuu,” Alex sang as she danced around my bedroom braless, in a tiny tank top and the shortest fucking shorts I’d ever seen. Did she always sleep in such revealing clothes?

I forced a tight-lipped smile. “Don’t mention it.”

“This was the best vacation ever...right? Did you and Chelsie have fun?”

My stomach gurgled. I was going to be sick. “Yeah, Al. It was great.”

“You just...well, you don’t seem all that excited.”

I buried my face in my pillow. “Just tired, Allie. Can you shut off the light and get to bed, please?”

“Really? But we just got home...Don’t you wanna talk?”

I forced a laugh. “Al, what I really want...is to go to sleep.” I was so tired of hearing how much she liked Dean. I just wished she’d shut the hell up about him already.

She huffed. “You’re awful grouchy for a guy who just spent the past two weeks playing with the world’s greatest pair of tits,” she teased, poking out her tongue.

Alex was a talker, and usually, I was more than willing to listen to her endless drivel. Tonight was not one of those nights. I was barely holding it together. “Alexis Mack...the light, please?”

“Fine,” she growled. “You didn’t pull out the trundle. Should I do it, jerk?”

She was pissed, and I was a mess. “Just get in with me,” I said, lifting the comforter.

A shocked expression crossed her face before she switched off the light and scurried into bed beside me. We hadn’t slept together this way in a few years. But, tonight, I just wanted the old us back. I wanted to hold her in my arms and pretend that nothing had changed...that everything hadn’t just changed.

“This is nice,” she whispered, snuggling into my chest.

I smoothed her long hair back and placed a kiss at her temple. “Yeah, Al...it is.”