“Fee,” he says, a hollow whisper. “I meant it. I don’t think I can last long.” A gust of a laugh.I dance my fingertips along the skin pulsing at his throat. “Good. Because I don’t plan on this being the last time I get you naked, Meyer Harrigan.”Because you’re mine. And I’m yours. Yours, yours, yours, I think.

“I love you, Meyer. I think I knew I was going to love you from that first day I watched you stomp in puddles with a gaggle of seven year old girls. I love you for the man you are, the father you are, and the friend you’ve been to me. I was so lonely before I found you guys, too.”His own eyes grow misty and he presses his own sign into my chest.“I love you, too, Fee.”

Christ, how did I wait so long to tell this woman I love her?

“Are you sitting on my Dad’s lap?” she asks, smiling conspiratorially.“I am. Is that okay?”“Yes! He told you the rule, though, right?”“No tongue kissing. Got it.”“And s’mores blondies once a month.”Fee turns back to me, “Why do I think that was your addition?”I shrug innocently.

It feels exactly like you’d think. Like being at overnight camp with your best friend who also happens to supply you with mind-bending orgasms.

“I’ll see you in a few days.”I kiss him like it’ll be a few years.

he continues to be my hammock, my support, and I’ve always had to come upon and fight for my confidence on my own. It should never have been his responsibility, even if he played a role in me finding it in the first place.