Lovely Bones {Sequel to Skinny Love}

Because I Love You

Emma's POV

I throw clothes up and down looking for my phone. I am supposed to call Luke before I go on to make sure he is here, but my phone seems to have gotten up and walked up. I give up looking for it in my dressing room and go into the McDonough's, hoping I might have left it there when I was in here with Toby earlier.

I scurry over to the leather couch in the corner where there were jackets scattered everywhere. I sigh and shake my head at the mess. I felt terrible for the people that had to clean up after these boys. I felt even worse for their mother who had dealt with this for 21 years.

I pick up a leather jacket and throw it to the other end of the couch. Thank goodness. I pick up my phone, a wide smile on my face. I look down to the crack where it was wedged. Beside it is a blue book with gold lettering.

'How to Help Someone Suffering from an Eating Disorder'

I pick up the book and turn it over in my hands. I've never seen it before. I open it up to where it was marked. Marking the page is the first picture of Toby and I under the table. I smile, remembering how happy I was in that moment. So much time as passed since then. It's funny. The first time I met him he made me flustered, and he still has the power to do that to me. Even after all this time, my heart skips a beat when I see him.

"Em?" I turn towards the door where Toby has his head poked in. "Did you find your phone?"

Instead of answering, I place the book back where I found it and run over to him. I press my lips against his. It takes Toby a moment to react, but he soon starts returning the kiss. When I am breathless, I pull back and rest my forehead against his.

"What was that for?" He asks, breathing heavily.

"Because I love you." He smiles and kisses me gently before pulling me toward the stage where everyone was waiting for us.

*~*~*

3 weeks later

"Em, hurry up!" Avery yells up the stairs. I pay no attention to her. Instead I focus on inspecting myself in the mirror. I promised myself that before the tour was over I would make myself go swimming with all of them. It's been years since I have been able to get into a bathing suit. Now here I am, standing in front of a full length mirror with my black bikini on.

I turn to the side. I turn away from the mirror and look over my shoulder. My hair reaches mid-back. I turn back towards the front and run my fingers along my stomach. Then I place my right on my collar bone and drag my fingers down my left arm. I place my hands on my collarbones, rubbing them until they are red.

I jump when I feel a pair of warm hands on my hips. I was so focused on my own reflection, I didn't notice Toby come up behind me. I look at him in the mirror. He doesn't break eye contact with me as he takes my hands and brings them away from my neck. He places them at my sides. He wraps his arms around me and places his hands on my stomach.

He traces the faint outline of my ribs. He lowers his hands towards my hip bones. They are less prominent than they used to be. He keeps his left hand on my hip as he takes his other hand and places them on my now red collarbones. He runs his fingers along them, inspecting each place with his fingertips and his eyes. His eyebrows turn down as he frowns.

He runs both hands down my arms and fumbles with my fingers. He rests his chin on my shoulder. I draw in a sharp breath as he kisses the skin gently.

"Stop." He whispers against my skin.

"Stop what?"

"You know."

"I know." I mumble. He turns me around to face him. I look down at his shirtless torso. I sigh as I place my hands on his stomach. I do just as he does and inspect his body with my hands. My fingertips run over the skin on his neck, then down to his shoulders. I trace swirls on his stomach as he stares down at me. My hands find his after making their way down his arms.

I finally get the courage to look up at him. His eyes don't give away any emotion. I bite my lip, pondering what to say.

"You don't have to worry about me, you know." I say. The corner of his mouth tugs up and he shakes his head.

"And you know that I'm never going to stop." He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me towards him. He kisses me once...twice...three times.

"Why?" I ask, when he pulls away the third time.

"Because I love you."

*****

Well the day has come. This story has come to a close. I've spent over a year working on Emma and Toby's story. These stories are the first I am proud of.

I have to thank all of you for keeping me motivated to continue with this story. If it wasn't for you, this story would've ended up buried in the depths of my computer.

I am sad to be done with this story, but also excited to focus on my other stories. I hope you guys will stick with me as you have for the last year. I love you!