Two Steps Forward Three Steps Back Pt. 3

"I'm so in love with you, Mattie. Not for your body, but for you. And..." he paused and looked to his sister before meeting my gaze, as I looked to him when he stopped talking. "I've never felt this way before. Not...not with Kaiden, not with anyone. And...with as much as Kaiden's death about destroyed me, Mattie, I don't think I could survive losing you. In any form."

I watched as tears fell unbidden from his eyes and he made no move to brush them away.

Liz still dragged her fingers through my hair, calming me. "I love you, too, Mattie. I've grown pretty attached to you these last few years, huh. Sitting out on the swing with you in the mornings is my favorite time of my day. I'll be sad the day you two get your own place and move out."

For some reason, I didn't understand the thought frightened me. At that moment I couldn't imagine leaving.

"I don't want to move any time soon," I told her in a gentle voice that was still rough and laden with surfaced emotion.