Page 35 of Blitz

I hold up the lone condom. “I owe you, man. Big time.”

“Buy your own.” His face is hard, impassive. He looks like he’s about to tackle me on the football field.

I force an easygoing grin. “I will. First thing tomorrow. I’ll restock your supply.”

He huffs out a laugh and relaxes, crossing his arms over his chest. “You don’t need to do that. Just tell me you didn’t take all of them.”

“Only took enough to get me through the night. You have plenty.”

He looks thoughtful. “So you and Mason… you’re serious about her?”

“I’m in love with her. I’ve been in love with her for years. I never thought we would be able to…”

To make up. To get past all the bullshit. To be stronger together than we are apart.

Miles hums. “How does it feel?”

“Like my world makes sense again. Like I can breathe again.”

There’s a sense of peace that has settled over me. The itch deep inside of me has been soothed. I know our issues won’t be magically resolved in the blink of an eye. I have grad school on the horizon. I don’t even know her major. She might have decided psychology isn’t for her.

She might not be the same woman I fell in love with all those years ago. That’s a risk I have to take.

“I’m happy you’re happy,” he finally says. “I hope she’s good for you.”

“I hope she is, too.”

“A lot of guys… when they get girlfriends, their concentration suffers,” Miles says. “Mine did. It’s hard to focus on school and football when I have Sam constantly on my mind.”

“Mase and I were together for so long. We know how to be a couple. We know how to balance school and sports and each other. We’ve got this,” I tell him.

“I believe you. I’m just saying…”

“I know. I know.” I sigh. “I was happy on my own. I missed her, yeah, but I didn’t feel the need to couple up with just anyone I came across. She’s special. She makes me want to be better.”

He snorts. “And the sex isn’t half bad.”

I hold up the pilfered condom again. “Thanks, man, for being so cool about this. Seriously, tomorrow I’m going out and buying a box. I should have gone out and gotten them this morning. I spaced. I haven’t had to do this before.”

Miles claps me on the arm. “Don’t sweat it. Just don’t make a habit of it.”

Mason shows up on our doorstep at half-past six, a bag of Japanese takeout in hand.

“I brought food,” she announces unnecessarily.

“Get in here.” I tug her inside the threshold and pull her into my arms. She squeals and melts into me. Her cold nose brushes against mine.

“Mm. You’re so warm.”

“I missed you.” I have to swallow back the emotions swirling within me. She’s here. This isn’t a figment of my imagination. The last two and a half years have majorly sucked without her, but she’s here and wants me again. I can’t wrap my brain around it.

“Missed you, too,” she says, burrowing her cold forehead in my neck. She breathes in deep. “You smell good.”

“It’s called taking a shower.”

Her lips curve into a smile as she looks up at me from beneath her lashes. “And did you think of me?”

“No.” Yes. I needed to take the edge off a bit. Two and a half years is a long time to go fucking my hand. I don’t want our night to end too soon.