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Wait for me. Never let me go.
I fell in love with Jackson Moreno in hell, the only two survivors trapped in a catastrophic tunnel collapse. But when rescue comes, I discover he has secrets darker than I could have guessed. He disappears from my life as quickly as he came, and I can’t afford to chase after him when I have to raise my daughter alone.
I fell in love with Jackson Moreno six years later, on a bright summer afternoon, cleaning the lobby of a small-town bank. But he’s still running, and I’m struggling to keep my little family afloat.
I fell in love with Jackson Moreno in three feet of snow, in the middle of nowhere, after we lost everything. Because sometimes a tatted bad boy and a shy dad who loves knitting are destined to be together, no matter how many years and miles and memories pull us apart. No matter how many times we have to start over.
If we refuse to be broken, I believe someday we’ll find each other for the last time.
An epic, moving story of second chances and love that defies all odds, featuring a double gay for you relationship full of first times, hurt/comfort, a demisexual main character, and mental health representation!
Triggers (potential spoilers): includes a disaster situation with emotional distress, claustrophobia, darkness, and brief mentions of blood and dead bodies; also includes violence, drug dealing, mentions of suicide, and mental illness (depression, anxiety, panic)
“Hey, handsome.” Ollie sounds so proud of himself, but nervous too, awkward and pleased. Like he sat around for a while before he called thinking of endearments, picked one he liked, and worked himself up to try it. This man will fucking kill me someday.
I sit up, trying to sound more human. “Hi, uh, sweet…cute…I dunno, Ollie.”
He laughs, the goofy one that gets startled out of him. “It’s fine. Enjoying your day off?”
I touch my cheek. “Tristan’s couch is imprinted on my face.”
“That bad, huh?” He sighs. “I was actually calling to see if you could do me a favor. Megan had to go to school this morning for some kind of Saturday sports day thing. I’m supposed to pick her up at one, but I can’t leave work. Can you take her home?”
“Sure thing.”
Ollie takes a deep breath. “Sorry I called you handsome. I mean, you are, but I’ve never used a pet name or anything before and it sounded a lot weirder coming out than—”
“Rules, Ollie. Never apologize to me.”
He makes an aggravated sound
“Try again.”
“I hope you fucking liked being called handsome because I’m not sorry and I’d do it again. Screw you. Better?”
“Better.” Oliver likes to pretend he doesn’t know where Megan got her attitude, but it’s painfully obvious. “Text me the address of her school.”
“Thank you, Jax. I—” He lowers his voice so whoever’s at the bank can’t hear. “I’m gonna start saying ‘I love you’ casually, when we talk. Because I think you need to hear it about fifty times a day. But I know it’s a big deal to you, and you don’t need to say it back. I know how you feel.”
I nod, forgetting he can’t see me.
“Love you, Jax. Drive safe.”
And suddenly there’s something thick and hot in my throat, a pressure behind my eyes. Because Ollie was my first I love you, but now he’s the first love you, drive safe. They’re two completely different things, and the second one hits like a freight train. My sister’s boyfriend told her he loved her while he abused her. But the quick, tender love you? I don’t think the darkness can touch that one. I realize he’s still waiting for an answer. “I will. And…” I search for something I can offer back. “You’re my reason.”
“I know.” I can hear that smile, the one like the sunrise.
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