First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 54

  Mama and mom look at each other and smile. I know from the look on both their faces that they are reminiscing. Finally mama clears her throat. "Taytum, when I first met your mom, I was married. To her so called father."

My mouth drops open. Dani nearly chokes on air.

"Wait. What?" we both say at the same time.

Mama holds up a hand. "Let me clarify. I married him when I was younger. He was my first love, or who I thought I loved. He was a good liar and a manipulator."

Mom rolls her eyes. "Yeah, that's one way to put it. He cheated on my mom when I was young. A lot. She kicked him out and filed for divorce. I didn't see him again until I was seventeen. My mom passed away, and I was sent here to San Antonio to live with him and his wife... your mama."

Mom looks over at mama with a soft smile, then back at me. There is a bit of nostalgia in her eyes. "I was completely smitten when I met her."

Mama laughs. "That's one way of putting it." She nudges mom and laughs. "Your mom flirted with me constantly, even though I told her it was inappropriate. But we always got along and there was an undeniable connection there. One I had never felt with anyone else. Mike was cheating on me. Once I found out, I got myself an apartment and filed for divorce. He blamed your mom for all of it and kicked her out for being a lesbian. I let her move in with me because if she had gone back to Florida, she would've had to repeat her senior year. After the divorce, things really changed. My feelings for your mom took me by surprise, and I fought it, but it felt right."

Mom nods. "I was also a student at the high school where your mama was principal."

Dani gaps. "Wait. You were her student? You're kidding."

Mom nods again as mama squeezes her hand and winks.

"It was complicated," mama says. "Messy. People didn't get it, especially when your mom asked me on a date right after she graduated." They both laugh but me and Dani are just shocked.

Mama looks at both of us. "The point is, sometimes love doesn't show up the way you expect. But when it's real, you don't walk away from it."

Mom grins. "Exactly. We get it, you two. The way some people talk, the age thing, the layered families. We've lived it."

Mama leans forward. "So if you were worried we'd judge or doubt you two, don't. We support you both."

My chest tightens. Dani's hand finds mine again, and I curl my fingers into hers. She squeezes back. We are both hearing the same thing. This doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be ours.

Mama glances at Dani. "Just don't let fear run the show. You're allowed to build something different. Just don't build it alone."

Mom nods. "Talk about the hard stuff. Hold each other accountable, but also hold each other when it's heavy."

I swallow hard, then nod. "Thank you. Both of you."

Mom gives a small smile. "It won't always be easy but if you two are in it for the right reasons, you'll be fine."

We stay here a while longer, talking more, laughing at old stories. Dani and I tell them that she asked me to move in and I said yes. They are happy, excited, and fully supportive. Eventually, I glance at the time.

Dani stands and stretches. "We better get KK home. She's going to crash any minute."

"Too late!" Tristan calls from the dining table. "She's out cold. Mid Go Fish."

We all laugh and walk over to where KK's little head is resting on her crossed arms. Out like a light. We tell my moms and brother goodbye, say we love them, and I carry KK next door. Her head rests on my shoulder as she mumbles something about dragons and glitter.

We tuck her in, kiss her forehead, turn on her nightlight, and slip out of her room. In the quiet hallway, Dani turns to me.

"Tonight was... a lot."

"Yeah," I say. "But good."

We end up in the kitchen. The lights are low. The house feels still and peaceful. Just the hum of the fridge and the sound of the night outside. I lean against the counter, watching her move around, barefoot. When she turns and catches me staring, she pauses.

"What?"

"Nothing," I say quietly. "Just... liking this. Me. Here. Us."

Dani steps closer and rests her hands on my hips. "Yeah?"

I nod. "Yeah."

Dani kisses me. Slow. Intentional. Like she means every second. Her lips move against mine with a softness that carries heat underneath. Her hands slide around my waist and pull me close until our bodies touch.

Her mouth opens under mine, and I deepen the kiss. My fingers thread through her hair. She lets out this quiet sound, barely a breath, but it hits me like a spark. Her hands slide up my back, tugging at the edge of my shirt. Wanting. Needing.

We stumble toward the hallway, still kissing, still clinging. Dani's back hits the wall near her bedroom. She pulls me tighter. Her leg slides between mine just enough to make me shiver. I kiss her harder, tasting her. Her fingers explore, tracing every place she can reach.

Dani breaks the kiss just long enough to breathe, then comes right back to me. Her fingertips graze the skin under my shirt. Warm. Slow. No pressure. Just wanting to feel me.

I drop my forehead to hers, breathing hard. "You're gonna kill me."

Dani grins, cheeks flush. "Not my intention."

"You sure?" I ask, brushing my lips against hers again. Slower this time.

Her voice drops. "I want you, Taytum."

It hits me like a shot to the chest.

"I want you too, but..." I whisper.

We kiss again. Deep. Unraveled. Dani's hands cling to my shirt. I slide mine down her back and back up, feeling every inch under her hoodie. She moans against my mouth, and it nearly wrecks me but we stop there.

We stay wrapped in each other. Hearts racing. Lips swollen. Bodies aching in the best way. Holding back isn't easy, but it feels like it is the right thing to do. Dani isn't ready yet, I can see it in her eyes. We both know it. For now this is enough. This closeness. This fire. This connection.

Dani leans her head on my shoulder, breath still unsteady.

"Okay," she says quietly. "We definitely need a rule or something because that was..."

"A lot?" I kiss her temple.

"Yeah," she laughs softly. "But the good kind of a lot."

I hold her close, smiling into her hair. "We're gonna be a problem, huh?"

"Mm-hmm," she murmurs. "Big one. I love you, Taytum. You always seem to know me without me having to say anything. I want to, I really, really do but I just..."

"I love you too, Dani." I say as I kiss her forehead. "I know and it's okay. Whenever you're ready, there's no rush, I promise."

We stay tangled up like that. Heartbeats still thudding. Bodies still humming. Nothing has happened, but everything has.

No past. No fears. Just us and everything we were building together.