Forever Kinda Love

Chapter 3

Ace

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

My chest tightens, strangling my breath as my vision tunnels on the red-blotted tissue in my hand. I can't seem to stop staring at it.

I don't understand. I've had nosebleeds for a few years now—stress-triggered every time—but I've never seen it this bad. I glance at the pile of bloody paper in the waste bin. They're getting worse; it took me half a roll of toilet paper before the damn blood stopped.

I blow into a fresh tissue to check one last time. It's clean. Throwing the tissue on top of the rest, I place my palms on the counter and lean against it for support. I close my eyes and try to calm my racing heart with a few deep, even breaths.

"I didn't know it was a skip school day."

I yank my hands back in surprise, hitting my left wrist on the vanity's countertop as I whirl around.

Damn it!

Cradling my arm, I scowl at Heath. He stands in the doorway in his fashionably torn, dark jeans and white, button-down shirt, his sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms. For a moment, I find myself staring, taking in his beautiful presence. Heath is a gorgeous man, no doubt. His full, bottom lip curves up, creating a small dimple in his left cheek.

He's totally letting me check him out.

He struts lazily toward me, his feet somewhat dragging. "If you're done drooling, we might want to get going."

His hazel eyes connect with mine. I've never seen eyes more stunning than his, so expressive and gentle. It's like they speak to me more than any words ever could. But, then again, that might also be because of our promise to always be honest with each other.

"Seriously, you gotta tell me, are we skipping today? 'Cause I'm itching to go to the zoo."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not ruining my perfect attendance."

He reaches for my hand and pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around me. I smile up at him. I love that he's openly affectionate with me in ways he never is with anyone else. But after nearly ten years of friendship, I wouldn't expect anything less.

I'm his confidant. He's told me his innermost secrets—things no one else will ever know. Not even his so-called best friends. But what does that make me? We never put a label on what we are. We just are.

He reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. Such a simple gesture, but it speaks volumes . . . it says that he needs me as much as I need him. Sometimes, it scares me how much my world revolves around him. I feel an unfamiliar flutter in my chest as he stares at me, and I can't tell if it's fear, or something else.

I clear my throat and place my hands over his chest. Reluctantly, I push back and head into my bedroom.

I rummage through the drawers on my desk, then under it.

Heath chuckles. "What did you lose this time?"

I look over my shoulder, arching an eyebrow. "I didn't lose my English Lit paper. I just put it somewhere safe. Very safe. Obviously."

"I swear, your room is messier than mine," he teases. "Do you have pigs living in here? Wait, no, even pigs . . ."

"Shut up, jerk!" The ends of my mouth curve up. "Haven't you heard? Organized chaos is the new 'it' thing around here." I finally spot what I'm looking for, under a pile of books and Campbell's soup cans. "Ah-ha!" I grab my ten-page paper and brandish it in the air with a triumphant smile. "See? I told you I'd find it."

"Whatever." He grabs the duffel bag filled with my cheer stuff, shoulders it, and walks to the door. "I swear, Ace, if we're not in my Wrangler in two minutes, we're skipping."

Laughing, I walk past him. "I can carry my own stuff, you know. And stop trying to get me to skip school."

"I need the workout," he responds, placing his hands on my shoulders and walking me down the hallway. "Besides, with all the books you carry around, you're gonna get a hunchback before you graduate. And I don't think you want all the guys to run away from you when you become the Hunchback's long-lost sister, do you?"

"Whatever." I dismiss him with a wave of my hand. "Lisa might be understanding for now, but she's probably making plans to off me for taking so much of your time. Oh, shit, Heath. What if she publicly hangs me by my boring cotton underwear?"

"I'll make sure you're wearing a hot pair when that happens, okay?" He winks.

My mouth hangs open as he saunters past me, out the door, and toward his car. Once the shock wears off, I jog to catch up to him. He throws my bag in the backseat of his red, doorless, windowless Wrangler, and comes really close.

He places his index finger under my chin and tilts it up. His eyes gleam bluish-green. "I've always got your back, Smalls." He leans even closer as his lips touch the spot just above my eyebrows, in the center of my forehead. "Always."

I close my eyes and swallow hard.

"Don't ever doubt that."

I nod.

"Now, you have five seconds to get in the car before I declare a skip day."

I shuffle my feet, climb in, and buckle up. "Why are you so damn set on skipping?" I see a cream-colored poly cup and multigrain bagel with cream cheese waiting for me in the console and smile. Yeah, Heath always has my back. He's never failed me, not even for a day.

He's been my rock. My secret-keeper. I touch the cup of coffee to my lips and take in my first sip of heavenly goodness.

"Ace." I glance toward him, then to his outstretched hand. He's holding a pink Damask rose with a sweet smile on his face. "Five hundred and sixteen weeks, Smalls."

Five hundred and sixteen weeks since he'd found me.

Five hundred and sixteen pink Damask roses.

I blink back tears and gulp down the pain in the back of my throat, bringing the flower to my nose and drawing a deep breath. A small smile curves my mouth.