S.C. Stephens

“Amid the screams of his leaving, I leaned down and whispered, “You just can’t help it, can you?”His expression innocent, he asked, “Help what?”Smiling, I kissed his cheek. “Being ridiculously attractive.”

“Reaching over, I stilled his leg. Eyes wide, he turned to me and whispered, “I’m nervous. I’m really fucking nervous. I never get nervous. What the hell is wrong with me?”

“Grinning ear to ear, Griffin tucked his hair behind his ears. “Not to worry, I’ve got the suit I want all picked out.”My frown even deeper, I pointed at Matt. “Do not let him leave the store if he’s wearing any sort of pastel color.” I paused, then added, “Or anything assless.”

“After Kellan begged me for a final kiss, Griffin murmured, “Your wedding day is Thanksgiving. That’s convenient.” He pointed at Kellan. “You probably won’t forget your anniversary.” He looked over at Anna. “We shoulda done that. I already forgot ours.”Anna smirked at Griffin while Kellan’s lip twitched. “Uh, it won’t always be on Thanksgiving, Griff.”He looked horribly confused. “Huh? Yeah, it will.”“Kellan bit his lip. I could tell he was trying really hard not to laugh, since laughing hurt. “Thanksgiving isn’t on the same day every year. It moves around.”Griffin glared at Kellan. “Don’t even try fucking with me, Kell.” He tapped his finger to his head. “I’m on to you.”I heard Matt and Evan snigger with Justin and Denny. My dad stared at the ceiling as he shook his head. I couldn’t contain my giggle; poor Kellan had to take long, slow exhales so he didn’t laugh with everyone else. “Griff, I’m not . . .”

“I never thought of myself as anything but plain and ordinary until you came along. The way you look at me, the way you see me . . . you pull something out of me. When I want to hide, you urge me forward. When I think I’m not good enough, you make me believe I am. When I feel anything but pretty, you convince me I’m beautiful. Just being around you makes me feel special. You don’t think you’re good at loving people, but you are. Your friends, your family . . . the level of love that you have for people astounds me. You don’t think people love you back, but they do. They fiercely love you. I fiercely love you. I’ve never met anyone as passionate as you, as kindhearted as you . . . as amazing as you. You love with every fiber of your soul. You inspire me every day. And if you’ll agree to be my husband, I’ll do my best to make you proud of me, to inspire you.”

“How is it you are all here together?”Dad frowned as he gave Mom a pointed glance. “Your mother spotted Gavin in baggage claim . . . from clear across the room.”

“We used to be close. We used to be like brothers. And if you died . . . it would be like a part of my family had died. And I don’t think you realize that.”

“Still looking at me, Kellan lifted the microphone to his mouth. “I’d like to formally introduce you to this beautiful girl at my side, Miss Kiera Michelle Allen.” He turned back to the DJs. “My wife.”

“Face calm and composed, Kellan simply smiled. Taking that as an affirmative response, Tory twisted to face the elevator doors. Behind her back, Kellan flashed me a devilish smile, one that clearly said, Hell if I’m doing any of that.”

“She’s my wife. She goes where I go.”

“Griffin? You . . . okay?”His face still blank, he looked over at me. His pale eyes were wider than I’d ever seen. “That . . . was . . . the most . . . disgusting thing . . . I’ve ever seen.”My fear vanished. She was okay. I patted his knee and his expression changed. Peace filled his face. “And the most incredible.”

“I love you . . . even if you are insane.”Kellan was chuckling as he opened the shower door. “Good, because I think I’m going to be burping soap bubbles for a week.”

“I know, Kiera,” he said soothingly. “That’s why I don’t really buy the rumors. Because I know you, and I know you wouldn’t put up with him cheating on you.” As guilt flooded me, he added, “We’re a lot alike in that way.”

“Griffin? You ever heard of knocking?”Griffin sniffed and tucked his chin-length hair behind his ears. “We’re family, dude, I don’t need to knock.”I sighed, not sure if Kellan could argue that point or not—not since Griffin had impregnated my sister. He really was family now. Lord help me.”

“If You're Gonna Ride My Ass, At Least Pull My Hair!”

“He needed more and more of me. He would always want me near him. I would always be first in his eyes. We were a good match. A perfect match. Soul mates.”

“Grab me now and do naughty things to my no no places.”

“I love you,” - Kiera “Just not enough…not enough to leave him?” - Kellan”

“Honesty, while painful at times, was the best thing we could do for each other.”

“I knew disagreements were inevitable, though. It was finding a way through the disagreements that made a relationship work, or broke it apart completely.”

“« What about tonight’s show?”Griffin immediately remembered where he was. “Fuck!” His eyes bored into mine. “You know our songs. You play for me.”“I can barely strum a guitar!”Griffin patted me on the back as he walked past me. “You’ll do fine. Good luck!”I watched him walk away, wondering if I’d really just become the replacement bassist for the D-Bags »”

“I love you too, and I don’t want anybody else either." Cupping his cheek, she added, "You’re enough for me."That seemed to make sense to Griffin, and he finally smiled like he was happy."You’re enough for me too."Grabbing his hand, Anna started backing toward her room. "Good, then come be enough for me right now. I’m horny as hell."Griffin rushed up to her, grabbing her backside. "God, me too," he murmuredbefore their mouths met.”

“What? It's a fair sacrifice. If you've got to be with one chick for the rest of your life, then you should at least get to go out with a bang. Or two. Or three." Anna raised a perfectly arched brow. "Really? Would you want some jackass to do that with our daughter?" "Fuck no. I’ll chop the little bastard’s balls off if he tries that kind of shit on my girl," he scowled.”

“ You'll never know how incredible you are to me, how desperately I love you. I would do it all over again if I needed to. I'd go back to the beginning for you”

“ Don't. I understand. I knew going into this that a story about us was also going to be a story about the two of you. And it should be. He was a big part of your life, and I'm okay with your history. It made you who you are. And I happen to be in love with who you are.”

“Well, what’s the point of being a rock star if I can’t bang the groupies?”Rolling my eyes, I found myself muttering, “I thought it was supposed to be about the music?”Griffin, unfortunately, heard y sullen comment and chose to respond to it. “No, no, I’m pretty sure it’s the pussy.”

“You’re not just a girl he’s seeing. You’re THE girl. You’re it for him. I see it in his eyes when he looks at you … He’s completely, madly, deeply in love with you, and he wants a lifetime with you.”

“My day isn’t complete until I’m deep inside you. Your body wrapped around mine is the only way I feel whole. But don’t think it’s just sex and a physical response to you that I’m feeling. It’s not…it’s so much more. You’ve opened me in a way that leaves me bleeding, vulnerable. Being with you, making love to you, it only solidifies what I feel for you. I know that I’ve become one of those spouting, love-sick idiots, but what it all boils down to is three words that don’t mean nearly enough…I love you.”

“You have any…nicknames?”Kellan gave me a charmingly crooked smile. “None that I’ve given myself, but from what I’ve heard said in the bedroom, it would probably be something like, ‘The Oh-God-yes-harder-faster-don’t-you-dare-stop-yes-fuck-me-now-you’re-freaking-amazing Machine.” He shrugged. “But that’s kind of a mouthful.”

“He would always want me near him. I would always be first in his eyes. We were a good match. A perfect match. Soul mates.Passion, friendship, love, loyalty, trust…if you found the right person…you really could have it all.”

“Kiera Michelle Allen, my life was empty before you stepped into it. I thought I had everything I needed, but only because I didn’t let myself want anything. And then I saw you, and you burned a hole straight through me. I have never wanted anything more in my life. And I have never been more terrified in all my life. In all my life,” he repeated.…”And then, beyond some miracle that I’ll never understand, I got to keep you, and now…I’m only just beginning to understand what it means to truly want something. Because I want so much now. I want to make you happy. I want to give you the world. I want you to be proud of me. I want to comfort you. I want you to comfort me. I want to hold you when you’re scared. I want you to hold me when I’m scared. I want to make you laugh. I want to make you blush.” Leaning in, he whispered, “I want to make you scream.”…”I want to give you a home. I want to fill it with children. I want to take care of you. I want to grow old with you. I want you by my side, every day.” … “I just want you. Do you want me too?”

“Anna gave me a humoring smile. “Everyone eventually falls for the two of you together. You’re meant to be.”

“Clearly angry with himself, Denny shook his head. “You needed me, and I wasn’t there for you. And I’m really sorry. That was pretty shitty of me.”“Are you kidding?” Incredulous, Kellan pointed over at me. “I slept with your girlfriend…repeatedly.” I flinched, and Abby squeezed my hand a little tighter.Denny frowned. “Well, that was pretty shitty of you.”

“Grinning at me, Kellan leaned down to kiss my cheek. “Thanks,” he muttered in my ear as he stole my beer from my fingers.I glared at him as I watched him tip it back. “Just so you know, I totally backwashed.”Kellan paused mid-gulp, then shrugged. Smiling wide once he was finished, he husked, “That’s all right…I like your fluids.”

“Want to go to a wedding with me in Ohio?”Rolling to my side, Kellan sat up on his elbow. “Anyone I know getting married?” he asked, amusement in his voice.Smiling, I shrugged again. “Just some annoying wishy-washy girl that half the world hates.”

“Griffin: “Did you just fuck him into submission?” He held his knuckles up to me. “Nice.”

“Griffin: “Dude! You get to film-fuck Sienna Sexton! High five!”

“I will always love you, Kellan. Your heart is safe with me.”Kellan pulled me into a hug and let out a long, shaky breath as he held me. “Promise?” he whispered?I squeezed him just a little bit tighter. “I promise.” Pulling back, I rested my forehead against his. “Not loving you isn’t possible. Trust me, I tried.”

“I want you and only you and I can’t bear the thought of sharing you. I’m sorry.” He looked down sadly. “I want to be with you in the right way – in the open. I want to walk into Pete’s with you on my arm. I want to kiss you every time I see you, no matter who’s looking. I want to make love to you without fear of someone finding out. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms every night. I don’t want to feel guilty about something that makes me feel so…whole. I ‘m sorry, Keira, but I’m asking you to choose.”

“Dont ever hold back anything back from me. I want to now... I want to know what you're feeling , even if you think I don't, even if you have trouble saying it”

“I've never felt for anyone what i fell for you. And i've never felt from anyone what I am feeling from you now”

“I want to... in a weird way. I want you to understand.I want you to know me.”

“Because you're mine!”

“i want you to leave him... and stay with me”

“i want to be the kind of man you deserve to have”

“Dont be sorry for loving someone”

“Please, don’t leave me.”

“I just want to be with you…wherever that is…”

“I want you. I choose you. It will be different this time, everything will bedifferent. I want to make this work with you.”

“I’ve thought about you every day ... I’ve dreamt about you every night.”