Page 456 of Once Upon a Fable

“I did.” I smiled back, still shocked and awed, with a mix of terror and pride.

“That was a surprise.”

“To me as well.” I chuckled. “It hadn’t been in my head until that very moment, but I guess it’s been in my heart for a while.”

Her cheeks pinked. “How long?”

“Probably when I woke up and thought you were the genie from myfable.”

She froze, her mind scooting back through all the moments between us. “Wait...you were still heavily concussed. I didn’t think you remembered those interactions?” Her eyes darted to the side. “There were many sides of you that woke during those first few days. And each wasn’t aware of the other.”

I grabbed a bottle of water and sipped, leaning back against the couch. We’d pushed the coffee table away and cleaned up the mess of the TV, leaving a good-sized piece of carpet for our picnic. “I only remembered the other day. In the hospital, actually. You were sleeping across the room, and I was watching you. I had a vague daydream of you saying you’d bring me happiness and felt an overwhelming sense of peace. When I went back to sleep and woke the next morning, I remembered that it wasn’t a daydream but a memory.”

I moved closer to her and pulled her into me. “You said you’d grant me happiness, Gem. That you’d make my wish come true.” My lips touched hers. The moment I kissed her, the air in my lungs vanished, leaving me light-headed with a tortured groan. “And you’ve kept that promise.”

“Always.” She kissed me back.

I yanked her onto my lap, hoping I didn’t just wipe out a bunch of food.

Her hands landed in my hair, and we forgot all about eating.

My headache faded a little as she ran her fingers over my scalp and her tongue lashed against mine.

She swept me away from a day of being the best I could be, allowing me to let go for a moment, to be hers, to be free in her arms because there...I found true happiness.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

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DOT18:ANYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED to The Girl Gravity Can’t See?

User123:Nah, last I heard she’d been abducted by a psychopath. My sister’s friend told my boyfriend who told me that her Jeep was spotted in a lake. Her body was eaten by crabs.

DOT18:OMG, for real?

Scar89:Don’t listen to them. Just ’cause she hasn’t posted a video in a while doesn’t mean she’s dead, guys! Life happens to the best of us.

DOT18:But she always had new content every week! How am I supposed to get my skills up if she doesn’t post anymore? I’m trying to get good enough so I can apply for the Olympics now it’s a thing!

User123:There are other climbers on YouTube, you dick. Learn there.

DOT18:Don’t call me a dick! I like Gemma’s vids. She explains why she goes for a certain hold and where to hold your body weight to stop the gravity swing.

FGH1:She won’t post another video ever.

Kait:How do you know?

FGH1:’Cause she’s dead. Chopped up into little pieces.

Sizi:That’s sick!

FGH1:Yeah, well, she deserved it for whoring herself out on YouTube. Those tight leggings and filming her ass climbing up a cliff? She was asking for it.

DOT18:I’m reporting you for abuse.

FGH1:Go for it. It’s the truth. She got snatched and murdered for being a video slut. I’m going to find her body and show all you guys the truth. And then I’m going to use her bones as toothpicks.

Wow...