Page 111 of Swerve (Boosted Hearts 1)

I woke several hours later, wrapped tight in Neco’s arms. He was behind me, chin resting on my shoulder.

“Hey,” he said softly.

“Hey.”

His hand left my hip and he reached back for something. The sound of Usher singing our song filled the room a second later, and my heart tightened.

“You know what this song means to me?” he said.

I shook my head.

“I remember watching you walk away, that night, after letting you go. How much it fucking killed me. You were my girl, had always been my girl. I’d always believed that one day, we’d be together. That when you were old enough, we’d take what we had to the next level. Then you came to me, in your pretty birthday dress, hope in your eyes, shit, written all over your beautiful face, and I knew in that moment that I couldn’t have you. That I had to let you go, that I couldn’t let the shit I was doing touch you.” I felt him suck in a breath. “And then it did anyway. That night, I lost the promise of you, of us. You became the girl I once knew. The girl I couldn’t have no matter how fucking badly I wanted you.”

I turned in his arms, tears running down my face. “Neco . . .”

“I promise I won’t hold you down, hold too tight. I can’t promise I won’t worry and act like a jackass at times, but I know how lucky I am. That whatever higher power brought us together, brought you back to me.” He kissed me gently. “You’re my girl and you’ll always be my girl.”

I sniffed, trying and failing to rein in the emotions overwhelming me.

His grin was soft and gentle as he swiped his thumbs over my cheeks, then leaned in to kiss my damp skin. “Don’t cry, baby. You know how much I hate to see you cry.”

“This time they’re happy tears,” I whispered.

“Fuck. I love you.”

“I love you more.”

“Not possible.”

I let the joy wash over me and smiled up at him. “You know, I’m okay with being held down occasionally.”

Heat radiated from his beautiful eyes. “Yeah?”

“Mmm hmm.”

He carefully lifted my arms above my head and curled his fingers around my wrists. “How about now?”

I nodded and his mouth came down on mine, kissing me hard and deep.

Then he made love to me, holding me down, holding me tight.

EPILOGUE

Neco

Nerves were battering the hell out of me as I tugged my mother into my arms and gave her a hug goodbye. “Love you, Mom,” I said into her hair.

“Love you too, baby,” she whispered back.

Ruby hugged her next and told her she’d bring her some brownies when she came to visit in a few weeks’ time.

Then Ruby’s hand slipped into mine, as usual sensing how I was feeling, and offered me the comfort and support I needed. I knew she was just as nervous as I was. Afraid to hope.

Then we walked away, out the doors of the Clayton Rehabilitation Center and to my SUV. I looked back, almost expecting to see my mother explode from the double doors begging me to take her home, that she couldn’t do it.

We climbed in the car and I stared out the window. “You think it’ll work this time?” I said into the silence.

Ruby squeezed my hand. “Yes.” She grinned at me. “The prospect of a future with grand-babies has given her something new to focus on, to fight for.” Her eyes softened. “She wants this. This time, she really wants it.”