True Identity

Chapter 52

I love writing speeches...

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I stared at him for a minute or longer as his eyes portrayed what he couldn't. He looked guilty overall but I could tell he was still hurting under his confident façade. I wanted to step towards him but the fear of rejection once again held me back.

"I'm a jerk, Coral. It's your birthday and I only see you at ten at night surrounded by dicks from school." Eli tried to joke, his hand going behind his head. I was oblivious to the shouts of objection from those sitting outside, probably watching the ordeal but for once I was focused on him just being here. I'd forgotten how addicting his presence had become to me and I really wanted to step up and run to him.

"Are you only here because it's my birthday?" I asked, standing frozen slightly away from the wall now, unaware of even how cold it was outside on a December night.

"Actually, I had an epiphany." He said, appearing to want to come to me as much as I yearned to run to me but I think he was waiting my reaction before testing those waters. He didn't know I'd be incredibly open for him to touch me anywhere right now.

"An epiphany?" I questioned.

"I crashed at my sister's apartment and realised I never really liked my parents anyway. They lied, yes but was that really unexpected and why should it affect me? I never knew him and it's most definitely not my fault. I'm not Zeke. My sister practically beat that out of me to be fair. Reevaluating my life took time but one thing stood out. I'm in love with you, Coral Williams. I become the person I want to be all the time when I'm with you. I may not have a destiny to be a star football player or the CEO of my father's company but one thing that I do believe in, that I know is fate, is you. You, bright eyes, are all I need to know I'll be happy. I have a place to be who I want to be when I'm in your arms. This week without you has been the worst of my life because of one stupid decision that took over my being. I'm in love with you and I may be incomplete. I may have a lot of thinking to do about my future but you are the one thing that doesn't have a question mark above it and it never will as long as you can forgive me." As he spoke, I made my way towards him, my smile getting bigger as I approached him. I don't know how he could even think I could resist his words after what we've been through over the past few months. I'd expected him to take at least a month to find himself again but this just shows how strong he is, to be standing back here, nearly back to the normal Eli I knew and loved.

"Just kiss me." I said, pulling his lips to mine desperately, pushing him against the car as his hands wrapped around my waist tightly, like he expected me to run at the first chance. "I'm in love with you too." I whispered against his lips and his eyes burst open in happiness, looking at me with lust and if I didn't here the eruption of cheers behind us, I'm sure he would have dragged me upstairs.

We turned and saw a crowd had built outside the house watching us. Morgan's expression screamed conspiracy. I turned back to Eli and looked into his eyes intensely.

"I'm going to be here for you. Don't shut me out and we'll get through this together. I know who you are below this extensive façade and it's definitely the person I love more than anything and I want to show him off to the rest of the world." I said, seriously, switching between his eyes so he knew what I'd do for him.