Page 71 of A Forever Love
“You fucking do. Your face says it all—you don’t need to answer, mittens.”
“What? No. That’s not how this game works. You can’t just assume answers for the questions I skip.”
“Whatever you say, but I found out what I needed to know,” I respond, wiping the tears from the corners of my eyes after laughing so hard. God, when was the last time I felt so carefree?
Merida pours a drink into my glass and straightens her back. There’s a fiery intensity in her eyes when she looks up. “What turns you on, King?”
I wouldn’t confess it aloud, but fuck, did she surprise me. I’m almost tempted to take a sip of the drink just to push her buttons some more, but I also want to witness her reaction after my response. “Kindness. Confidence,” I begin. As I think about it, images of Merida fill my mind like a reel. “Compassion—”
“What about beauty and a five-foot-eight-inch height? Those were the only criteria for all the boys in college.”
“The height would certainly make the logistics work,” I quip, and her cheeks instantly flush. I can’t lie, I’m enjoying this game more than I expected. “But I’m not some college boy. I’m a man who knows how to make it good—no, scratch that, fucking unforgettable for both me and my partner.” Tonight, I’ve seen so many expressions on Merida’s face, and every one of them has been a revelation. “Now it’s my turn. How many boyfriends have you had in the last four years? I know you were married to your studies before that.”
“You don’t know everything.”
She arches her eyebrows, and despite my desire to give a cheeky comeback, I recognize the truth in her statement. If I had known everything, I would have understood why she left.
“Three,” Merida replies to my earlier question. “Though one of them only lasted for two days. He turned out to be a jerk.”
“What the hell did he do?” Possessiveness surges within me.
“He attempted to two-time me and my roommate.” Her lips twist. “A complete asshole. But don’t worry, I showed him a picture of Dad in his Navy SEAL uniform, and he couldn’t have run away faster.”
For the first time, a crack appears in her façade. She didn’t like the self-imposed four-year exile.
“My turn.” Merida once again sits straight like she’s been doing with every question. “How many girls have you ever been with?”
“Only girls?”
“Carter King, you stop playing games with my mind.”
“Been with…as in sexually?”
She nibbles her lip and shrugs. “Or the girls you consider significant enough to include in this question.”
“Okay. Sexually, I’ve never kept count. But I’m still struggling with my feelings for the girl I consider most important in my life.”
“Oh.” Her smile drops. She looks away for a second, and when she gazes back at me, her smile is all plastic and fake, like a hastily drawn caricature, concealing the inner turmoil. “And what’s her status? Does she think you’re worth her time?”
I shrug. “Guess I should ask her sometime.”
“Do you…like, love her?” Merida’s voice is barely a whisper, as if she’s afraid of what my answer might be.
“I’ve always loved her in some way, but this is new.” A silent understanding passes between us, as if we’re communicating beyond words. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part, hoping she can sense the struggle that’s been consuming me these days. I’m the first to look away, but then I turn my gaze back to her. “My turn. Who did you miss the most when you were away?” I know I’m an asshole for asking her to choose.
Her smile is somber. “That’s a bad question and you know it.”
“I do.”
“I missed everyone and everything. I missed Poppy and Sage, and all their major milestones, like when they started crawling and spoke Dad’s name for the first time instead of calling him Dad. There’s only so much love you can give and receive via video calls. I missed the happiness that filled my house. I missed all the changes that happened at Kings Security campus—Uncle Lukas and Autumn moving in with Spring, Uncle Gavin and Minnie having Adrianna, and Uncle Connor and Birdie, two people who are more different than opposite polarities but are setting relationship goals for everyone. I missed the impromptu dinners and lunches at my home when everyone would just show up with food. I missed Uncle Tiki and his diner.”
I’m one second away from losing my shit and bawling like a cranky toddler. She missed the fucking diner, but not me. “I was hoping to hear my name on that list, preferably ahead of the diner.”
Merida, now hugging her knees, glances at me. “I believe the emptiness I felt when it came to you couldn’t be filled with just a simple miss.”
The sadness etched on her face tugs at my heartstrings. But, before I can delve into the emotions that seem to weigh on her, Merida pours a glass of wine for me. “It’s my turn, and remember, you still have one question you can skip if you don’t want to answer.”
“Go ahead,” I urge, sensing her hesitation.