Page 32 of Always Right Here

We talked extensively about our new relationship. Everything from boundaries, consent and even therapy to bring a secure feeling of trust between us. Well…mainly to bring a secure feeling of trust from me to her. She agreed to every term I had and even though I may have been fucking insane, I believed her. After everything, being with her still felt right.

But I was nervous about telling my family. Korie agreed to do all the talking, which I was thankful for, but I yearned for their approval. I hoped they wouldn’t see right through us. But the second I chose Korie in that forest was the second I decided that I’d never be separated from her. Not by choice, at least. And somehow I knew that even if we were apart, she’d always find her way back to me.

“Is this water safe?” I wriggled a plastic water bottle next to her face. “I can’t believe you drugged me.”

Korie kept her promise and had been brutally honest with me. She admitted to slipping sleeping medicine inside the water she gave me on the way to the cabin.

Her eyes widened, her mouth dropping open.

“Okay,druggedis crazy…it was diphenhydramine. And to be fair, we give it to everyone who goes to the safehouse as a precaution. We don’t want them to actually know where we are going.”

“Yeah, but youtell them.”

“True,” she sighed. “I’m sorry baby…I-”

“It’s okay, I’m not mad.” I shifted in my seat. She looked over at me with a cocked brow.

“Riah…don’t tell me you are getting turned on at the thought of me drugging you.”

“Blame yourself for awakening the fucked up little weirdo inside me!” I shrugged.

She chuckled, shaking her head as she threw the car in park.

“We will talk about this later, pretty girl. For now, we gotta go face your family. Are you ready?”

“I’mso nervous.”

Korie clenched my thigh again, steadying the bouncing.

“It’ll be okay, baby. Just remember the story. Let me do all the talking. If you get uncomfortable, just squeeze my hand.”

After a few deep breaths, Korie opened my door and we walked inside, hand-in-hand. My mom, dad, Eddie, Chrissy and Mila all waited for us on my parents' couch. All their heads snapped over to us and immediately down to our clasped hands. Eddie shot to his feet and my stomach twisted in fear.

“Fuckin’ finally!” He exclaimed.

My mouth dropped open at the obvious acceptance. As we approached the table, everyone, besides Dad and Eddie, shared the same shocked but pleased expression. It eased my fears just enough to stop shaking.

For the next hour, Korie explained everything that happened with my ‘stalker’ and how there was nothing to worry about anymore. My dad, being a retired lawyer, had the most questions, but Korie answered with a practiced elegance. I even found myself convinced as she spoke.

With everyone satisfied and soothed to know I was safe again, there was one more elephant in the room.

“So,” my mom asked, eyeing our hands still clasped together. “You two are…?”

“Together,” I spoke up for the first time since we’d come home. “Yes.”

“Mama, they’ve wanted each other since we were like 14; it's really not that surprising,” Eddie explained.

“Yes, Eddie, I was just asking to confirm. You know, being polite?” She shotdaggers from her eyes at him before turning back to me. “That is beautiful, honey, I’m so happy for you two. It's almost like fate.” She smiled.

“Yeah,” I looked over at Korie who had a small, knowing smile ghosting her lips. “Almost.”

Epilogue

1 Year Later

Riah

“Good session.” Korie smiled as she waved back to our therapist.