Grown ish: Zoey and Aaron's Story (BOOK 1)

Part 39: Finally

Zoey narrates.

Standing in front of Aaron, in his dorm, I can't help myself, as I take his face in my hands, and kiss him deeply. He holds my waist with his hands, leaning into me, breathing into me.

After a long kiss, I finally pull away and step back from him, and frown awkwardly.

'Zoey? What's wrong?' He asks, coming forward towards me, as I step back again.

'Just...stop.' I say.

He looks surprised.

'I can't do this anymore, Aaron. I want to move on. I want to move forward. But whenever I'm around you I just...lose control. It's hard. It's hard to act like nothing happened between us, when so much has. Why did you do this to me?' I say, my eyes watering, as he looks stunned.

'Zoey, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt you.' He says, as I shake my head.

'I know, Aaron. But it's not fair. Maybe you were right. Maybe we aren't supposed to be together. But I'm still hurting. And I haven't stopped. And seeing you everyday is killing me, when all I want is to be with you.' I say, all in one breath.

He walks over to me, and wraps his arms around me in a tight hug. At first, I don't reciprocate, but I finally give in and snake my arms around his waist, my head resting on his chest.

'Zoey, I care about you. So much.' He says.

My chest feels tight.

'I just...I don't know what to do. How to be there for you, how to...love you...anymore.' He says, as I look up at him, his arms still around me.

'What do you mean?' I ask, confused.

'I just...everything that's happened in our relationship until now has been my fault. Not yours. And...you know it makes me think, in fact, I know, that you deserve better.' He says.

'No one's more perfect for me than you.' I say.

'You don't feel like you're settling though?' He asks.

'Everything about our turbulent relationship, all the good, and all the bad, means so much to me. Yeah, mistakes happened, we both did things that might have hurt each other...but I know there's no one else I'd rather be with. I wish you felt the same.' I say, pulling away from him.

There's a pause.

'I do feel the same, Zoey. You know how much I love you. I...'

I go over to him and kiss him again. This time, slow.

'I love you.' He says, between kissing me back as I pull off his top and he unbuttons my shirt.

We pause for a moment, looking at each other.

'I love you too.' I say, before I wrap my legs around him and he lifts me on to the bed.

_____

As I lay in Aaron's arms, I smile, content.

He kisses my forehead.

'This is the only place I want to be.' He says.

'Does that mean....' I question him, cautiously.

'I want to be with you, Zoey. I've always wanted to be you.' He says, stroking my face.

I smile and lean in to his chest, closer.

'I hope this means you'll stop seeing Marcus.' He says, laughing.

'I was never seeing Marcus anyway.' I say.

He sits up, and so I do too, and he takes my hands in his.

'Did you and Marcus....' He doesn't finish his sentence.

I hold his face.

'I couldn't.' I say, as he looks relieved.

'It's not that I don't trust you I just....' I stop him, and smile at him.

'It's okay.' I say, as I kiss him, and he pulls me into a tight hug.

_____

After a while, I head back home, smiling.

I open the front door, and Ana, Nomi and Sky are sitting in the kitchen so I walk over.

'Hey.' I say, casually, although I can't wipe the smile off of my face.

'You're glowing.' Ana says, beaming.

'Yeah...why are you glowing?' Nomi asks, confused.

' It's the after sex glow.' Sky says, as Ana and Nomi's eyes widen. They turn to me.

'You had sex with Marcus?!' Nomi asks, excitedly.

I shake my head, embarrassed.

'You had sex with...Aaron?' Ana asks, cautiously.

I look down and nod.

'Again?' Sky adds, and I can't help but burst out laughing.

'I think Aaron and I are back together?' I say, and I finally know that this time, it's for sure.

_____