Prologue

PROLOGUE

There she is, the woman of my dreams. She owns my heart, and she always will. My brain short circuits as she dances on the floor of our high school gymnasium.

The way her body moves, and the way she looks back at me as she dances with her friends, has me growing in my pants. I love her. I’ve told her as much, but she really didn’t understand my desire to stay here, home .

We have less than two weeks before we graduate, and she is just… leaving me behind. It’s not long before she comes up to me, grabbing my hand and dragging me onto the dance floor with her.

This song is a slow one, one that only has me falling for her even more. The look in her eyes as we spin around the dance floor has me smiling back at her. I love her, but if home isn’t what she wants, then I need to stay behind and wait… I guess.

After what feels like an eternity, the song ends, and I lead her back to our table. Our punch waits for us as we approach our seats. Just before she gets her glass to her lips, I pull her close and whisper, “Why don’t we make a toast?” She nods as I pick up my cup. “A toast, to us, to our futures, and to the love we have, and always will have.”

Her smile grows as she plops herself onto my lap, laughing. “Here-here.”

We tap our glasses together and take a big swig. It’s then that I realize they have been spiked. My eyes wide, I search the room, finding the culprit. He winks and runs out of the gym, laughing his head off.

“You taste that, don’t you, Aneko?” Her nod as she swallows it anyway has me shaking my head from side to side. “It was Jasper, you know.”

Her giggle has my pants barely able to contain my self . “Yeah, he’s a cutie, don’t you think?”

I take her drink from her hand and turn her just enough that I can tickle her. “I thought I was your one and only cutie…”

She laughs and laughs, but as my hands slow their movements and the tickling stops, her face goes stone hard, and she holds our hands together. “Kaloosh, you know that I’m moving, and you are staying behind, right?” I can feel my Adam’s apple bob as I nod, ever so slightly. “Then you know we can’t stay together. I can’t bring myself to do a long-distance relationship.” Her eyes leave mine as she adds, “As much as I’d like us to stay together, you have to get comfortable with me leaving and finding someone new someday.”

I gently pull her from my lap and set her on the chair in front of me. “Do we have to do this now?” Her eyes well up with tears as she nods. “Okay. If we have to do this now, then I want to tell you how I feel.”

“I know how you feel, Kaloosh, I feel the same way. But I refuse to date long distance. If the time comes that I come home and we are still unattached, then I will take you back. I won’t even hesitate, but, for now, I need to go. I need to leave this town and not think twice.”

I hold her hands in mine, kissing each of her palms as her tears drip down her face and hit her beautiful purple dress. “I know. I’m here to tell you that no matter what, I am going to be here for you. I don’t care if I am married, or you are. Anyone I choose to date will know that I have more room in my heart, there will always be a spot there for you, Aneko.”

I don’t know how long we sit there, holding each other, but I do know that by the time we get up, the janitor is telling us it’s time for them to clean up. We forgot about the whole world as we bared our hearts to each other.

Another glance around tells me that we have no friends here with us and we have to get an Uber home. I make the call and the two of us head out. I don’t care what happens when she leaves, she will always have space in my heart.