13. Rosalyn

THIRTEEN

ROSALYN

My lips part on a gasp.

And Nathan moves. Claiming his taste.

Our lips meet.

My body leans into his.

My neck arches.

And I kiss him back.

I kiss him .

My Nathan.

The man who's held my broken pieces together for so long.

Who's been both my best friend and a figment of my imagination.

The man I haven't seen in twenty-five years.

The man who's lived an entire life since walking away from me that day in the woods.

My heart squeezes painfully.

I want this and hate this. Because I want him to know it's me.

I want him to desire me.

But maybe that's not supposed to happen.

Maybe I'm supposed to have this experience with him this way. With anonymity .

Maybe I need to experience this, with him, just this once.

Because he's here.

And he's kissing me.

I open my mouth.