Read Fighting To Stay for Free Online Page A

quickly on my heels wrapping his arms around my waist and spinning me around. The giggles turn into full-blown laughter.
    Setting me down on the floor, he turns me around. “Do you know how much I love that sound?”
    “No,” I laugh breathlessly.
    Leaning down, he lightly brushes his lips across mine. My initial reaction is to lean in for a deeper kiss, but he changes things up. Trailing kisses across my cheek, I lose my breath. His hands rise up and gently cup my neck as he works his way back to my mouth. Smiling at me a moment before he seals his lips over mine, I feel it deep within my soul.
    He’s been my everything for so long, aside from the two years we didn’t talk. Nevertheless, even in his absence, I still knew. Vince had never been the one I loved completely, but that filled that void of constant rejection by the one that completes me. Knowing what I know about him now, I’m glad he was never any more than that for me.
    However, being in Garrett’s arms right now, having him kiss me like this, I have to be dreaming. That’s all there is to it. His hands move down and squeeze my ass. His need for me is pressing firmly against my stomach and a shiver runs through me. Pulling away from my mouth, he lowers his head.
    “Oh baby, I want to, I want to so badly, but not until you’re ready. Not until you believe in the love, I have so much love for you and you have for me. Only then will this happen,” he whispers against my neck.
    “Oh, uh, um, okay.”
    Lifting his head, he meets my eyes. “Baby, I need you badly, but you aren’t sure about us and that’s okay. I’ll wait for you. I’ll always wait for you.” Pressing a soft kiss to my lips, he smiles. “Now, let’s watch a movie and have a relaxing cuddling day.”
    Nodding my head, I walk over to the bed and adjust the pillows to lean against the headboard.  Garrett comes over, helps me make the bed, and climbs on patting the spot next to him. Grabbing the remote off the floor, I climb onto the bed.
    “You pick it. I’m probably going to fall asleep.”
    “Don’t forget to call your brother,” he reminds me.
    “Oh, I forgot,” I say as I jump off the bed and grab my phone from the top of my dresser.
    Walking back over to the bed, I lean up against the pillows as I wait for Josh to answer. My mind begins to wander off on thoughts of the future.
    Where would my life be in five years? Ten years? I don’t know at this point, but I do know that wherever they lead me to deep in my heart, I hope that Garrett is with me. The thought of accomplishing anything without him by my side with that drop dead gorgeous smile of his, it fills me with a loss I never expected.
    When Josh’s answering machine picked up, I got a bit worried. Quickly, I call Hailey to see if she knows what’s going on. As her phone goes to voicemail, a bit of panic wells up in my stomach slowly increasing my heart rate. It wasn’t like them to not answer their phones.
    “What’s wrong, Dee? You feeling okay? You’re shaking.”
    “They aren’t answering their phones. Something doesn’t feel right. I don’t know what it is, but something just doesn’t feel right.”
    “Do you want to drive out there and see them? I’ll take you if you want to.”
    “Would you mind giving up this time for my family?”
    “Baby, I love you. That includes them too. If it’s important to you, then it’s important to me. Come on, let’s get dressed.”
    Kissing him softly on the lips, I climb from the bed and gather some clothes before heading into the bathroom to dress. By the time I came out, Garrett is dressed and ready to go. We head out. Garrett holds my hand the entire time to the parking lot and while on the drive toward the countryside.
    “Hey,” he says softly and unsure.
    Turning my head, I look at him. “I’m okay, just nervous. They’ve never not answered one of my calls, especially not now. They’ve always been there for me and me for them. Something just doesn’t