Page 60 of This Kind of Forever

“That doesn’t sound any different than what you do now.” Her voice is quiet.

“I would feel lucky as hell to be with you, so I would hold you close every chance I had,” I continue, demonstrating by tightening my arm around her waist, pulling her flush to me. She nods, and I continue. “And, most importantly, I would kiss you. All the time.”

I might be pushing my luck here, but…fuck it.

It’s faint, but I swear I hear her breath hitch. I wait for her to protest. She doesn’t.

“What do you think, Foster? Can I kiss you to prove that you’re mine?”

I’m walking on a tightrope with no safety net below me. All that stands between me and certain death is the beauty in my arms. She can sever that rope with a few sharp words.

Hallie’s lips part. “We, um, want it to look real.” She nods, resolute. “Treat me like I’m yours, Gabriel.”

The room full of people around us ceases to exist. In this world, it’s only me and Hallie. With tunnel vision, I cup her cheek, tilt her head, then bring my lips to hers. She feels warm and soft. Her perfume invades my nose, rendering me powerless.

Hallie Foster has left me irrevocably defenseless, and I don’t think she even knows it.

So many times, I’ve thought of kissing her. What she would taste like. If she would gasp in surprise, then lean into it. Nothing prepared me for how it would feel to have her melt in my hold as the tension seeped from her body. How it would feel to have her press herself closer, until her soft curves were all I knew.

Hallie Foster has left me defenseless, but truthfully, I don’t give a shit.

I want to take this further. Back her against the wall so I can properly explore her mouth. Map her waist and hips with my hands. I want to feel her long hair threaded between my fingers, wrapped around my fist. I want to watch her come undone, and then do it all over again.

Reluctantly, though, I pull myself away. She blinks dazedly, and I find a small sense of satisfaction in that. In putting that look of sated confusion on her face.

With my thumb, I wipe away a smudge of lip gloss on the corner of her mouth. Then I lick the taste of it off my own lips.

Her gaze dips to my mouth. “I…”

“Mm,” I hum. “Strawberry.”

She shakes her head, as if to clear it. “You kissed me like you’re trying to win something.”

You, I want to tell her.

“Come on,” I say instead. The song has ended now, and in its place is something more upbeat. “Let’s go find some cake.”

I take her hand in mine. She still has that slight look of confusion on her face, so it takes her a second, but then she lets me lead her over to the dessert table.

By now, the room has grown relaxed as people have indulged in more drinks and sweets. Both Hallie and I have stuck to water, but she has no qualms about grabbing a generous slice of cake. I do the same.

We retake our seats and start on our dessert. I can’t help watching the way Hallie meticulously licks the buttercream frosting off her fork. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she does it on purpose simply to torture me.

We’re finishing off our slices when Caitlyn finds us. She sits in the empty chair beside Hallie. “Hi! I’m so glad you could make it.”

Hallie beams, and this time, her smile is genuine. I know she’s still nervous, but at the core of it, she’s happy to be part of her sister’s big day.

“Congratulations,” Hallie says. “Your dress is stunning. Amara’s, too. And this place looks amazing!”

“Thank you. I definitely wasn’t one of those girls who always dreamed about what their wedding would look like, but once the theme hit me, I had to make it perfect.”

I chuckle. “I’d say you definitely succeeded in that.”

She smiles. “Now, not that I don’t love chatting with you, but I actually came over here for a reason,” Caitlyn says. “You can say no, but I was wondering if you’d come take a picture with us.”

Hallie’s eyes widen in surprise. “Me?”

Caitlyn laughs. “Yeah, you. We got a bunch earlier with Mom, Dad and Bryan, but I’d like some with you, too. If you’re alright with it.”