Every Heart by LK Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

are going to be, or where things are headed. Knowing that yet again, this argument is a lost cause, I change the subject. “Are you hungry?” I ask.
    “No, not really.”
    “Come on, babe, you’ve barely eaten anything lately. I’m sure something sounds good.”
    “I don’t know, maybe the Metro Café?”
    “That’s perfect, let’s go out and get you something.”
    “Okay,” she says and I step to her. She won’t make eye contact with me and I’m getting tired of things being like this with us. Holding my ground, I place my hands on her sides and watch her intently. She doesn’t last long and finally looks at me. I smile and lean in, kissing her gently. She kisses me back the way she always has, strong and with confidence. My hands find her head, cupping it and holding us together. Threading my fingers into her soft blonde strands. As we kiss, her phone rings in the distance. But I push away the anxiety. I know that everything is going to be all right – it has to. Pulling away, I help her off the counter.
    “Shall we?” I ask.
    “Yes.”
    We slide on some flip-flops and leave hand in hand. She doesn’t slow or falter in the hallway, like I’d worried. This is the first time we’ve left since we came home. I’d been anxious about how she would handle stepping foot in the spot that her breakdown happened, but it’s like nothing to her. I seem to be more stressed about it. On the elevator ride down, she hugs me and I tightly hold her back, resting my chin atop her hair.
    The lobby is quiet. Herbert is off today and for once I’m kind of thankful. With all of the stress flowing through me, I’m not in the mood to talk. Once we emerge into the noisy busyness of New York City, the sun is warm and I go to hail us a cab.
    “Let’s walk,” she says, stopping me by grabbing my arm.
    She never wants to walk, as it always seems that I get recognized, so I’m a little thrown off by her request. “You sure?” I ask.
    She nods her head, wrapping her hand tightly around mine and we head off. I love how confident she is leaving the house at the drop of a hat, with no make-up on, messy hair, and whatever clothes she threw on.
    Internally, I again want to bring up the fact that I don’t want her to see Nate alone, but how can I? I know it will ruin our lunch. “I’m surprised no one is recognizing you,” she says.
    “Right? It feels good,” I respond, as we round the corner on our last leg to the Café.
    “Bain, I want you to know that no matter what happens, I love you, okay?”
    “I know, babe, and I love you. Can I ask you a question?” She nods her head looking up at me with those gorgeous light eyes. “Are you doubting us? I mean, are you having second thoughts that we are going to stay together?”
    “No! I mean, I don’t know. I just…I just want you to know that I really and truly love you.”
    “I know that and I can’t imagine my life without you, I love you just as much. I know what we’re facing is difficult, but can you promise me one thing?”
    “Of course.”
    “If you talk to Nate, will you please talk things over with me afterwards? I mean, you owe me at least that much, right?”
    “Of course I will.”
    She nods her head and I stop us right in the middle of the sidewalk. There are people bustling by, but I don’t notice any of them except for her. She’s all I ever see. Taking her head in my hands, I thread my fingers into her hair. Her eyes look at me searchingly, and I claim her mouth. Wrapping my lips around hers, tight and hard. I kiss her with all of my might. My tongue barges access to her mouth and she accepts me, wrapping her arms around me.
    As I stand here and kiss her, showing not only her, but the world that she is mine, tears fill my eyes, tears of fear and worry. She is truly my everything, and without her…I am nothing.

Standing on the side of this busy New York street with Bain, we embrace and kiss. I feel a passion inside of me that only he makes me