book 1 ✔︎
book 2 ✔︎
book 3 ✔︎
PART OF ME - you become so emotionally close to someone that you feel like they are literally a part of you, like a half of your heart. You don't want to live without them - you can't.
Aviana Ember wouldn't know this fe...
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Will and Jem are still snoozing when we get back. I'm overjoyed that they're here. I'm sad because at some point, they'll have to go back. I don't ever want them to leave. Of course being with Axel is what my heart really desires, but I miss my family. I want them all to be here and stay here.
I know Axel can tell as he notices me watch our siblings sleep.
"Sweetheart, come here," he whisper, leaning against the kitchen counter and taking me into his arms. I let myself go still in his warm, comforting arms, and snuggle my face against his broad chest as his hands rest against my back, rubbing it gently. "I wish they'd be here longer too. I miss them. I miss your parents. I don't know why I stayed after my father denied me; I just felt like I couldn't leave. It didn't feel right."
"You thought about coming back?"
"I missed the hell out of you," he chuckles. "I thought about it everyday, even before I found my dad. But I knew I couldn't leave. I like it here. It feels right to me. I feel like I have so much more to do here."
"Cali's too hot for me anyways. I like Seattle." I tell him, leaning my head back to glance up at him. I peck his lower lip and say, "You're alright too I guess."
"I'm not too hot for you?"
I snort. "You're like a 9."
Axel scoffs. "False. I'm a 10."
I sigh, giving in, and whisper, "you're a bazillion thousand out of 10."
He snickers and draws my face against his to kiss me again, warm and gentle and full of adoration. "I'm glad you think that," he murmurs against my mouth, before slowly pulling away. "I got you an actual gift too, babe," he lets on, "probably not as cool as the one you gave me, but —" he takes me hand, "come," and leads me into the bedroom.
I flick on the light and sit on the bed, and he reaches up into the top shelf of the closet, where I could never find the gift unless I got a chair, and pulls down a huge box. I don't know how I missed it.
Axel's grinning when he sets it on the bed. I look at it and look at him, and he nods, and I start unboxing it like a child on Christmas morning. The top of the box holds two bubble wrapped items, and when I tear the wrapping away, they're two couples coffee mugs. I squeal delight, no matter how many mugs we already have.
Axel takes a seat on the bed too, watching me unwrap his gift. I pull out what seems to be a blanket and get on my knees to try to stretch it out to see what it looks like. I gasp, "it's a mermaid blanket! I've always wanted one! My toes always get so cold when I'm reading!"
Axel smiles. "I know."
I hug the blanket and then tackle Axel into a hug too, smooching his entire face.
