“Yeah, I think I am.”
“Fucking hell, Lys. Of all the guys.”
“I know. It’s always been him though, Leon.”
“Well then, I guess that’s how it’s meant to be. Please just refrain from making me watch.”
“We’ll do our best.”
“Now get out of here and go and look after your… boyfriend.” The way he says that word makes me laugh.
Walking up to him, I press a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks, bro.”
“You’re really, really not welcome.”
I’m laughing as I leave his room, but I come to an abrupt halt when I find Emerson leaning against the wall outside Leon’s room with a wide smile on his face.
“What?” I ask hesitantly.
“Say it again.” My brows furrow. “I want you looking at me when you say it this time.”
“Wha—oh.” I step up to him and run my palms up his chest until I link my fingers behind his neck. He’s so tall that I end up on my tiptoes with the entire length of my body pressed against his. I stare into his blue eyes and swallow down the emotion threatening to clog my throat. “I love you, Emerson Locke.”
“I love you too, baby.” His arms come around me and I sigh in contentment; that is before the sound of my brother’s voice hits us.
“Really? Right outside my door? Fuck off.”
We both bark out a laugh as we apologize and make our way back to my bedroom to quietly spend the night proving exactly how we feel.
Epilogue
Alyssa
Six months later…
“I can’t believe you’re not taking me to college,” I say to my parents as we stand on the driveway. Emerson’s car is idling behind us, loaded with all my stuff ready to make the journey to Maddison Kings University.
“Someone can be very persuasive,” Mom says, looking up and smiling at Emerson, who’s waiting for me to say my goodbyes. It’s crazy, the university isn’t all that far away and we’ve already planned to come back the weekend after next for Dad’s birthday. It’s not like I’m moving to the other side of the country.
“I love you both.”
“We love you too.” Two sets of arms wrap around me and tears burn my eyes.
“I need to go.”
Mom sniffles, proving that I’m not the only one trying not to fall apart right now.
“Call us when you get there.”
“I will.”
I climb into Emerson’s passenger side without looking back.
“Okay let’s go.”
“It’s okay to cry, you know.”
“I know. I just feel ridiculous getting all emotional about this.”
“It’s normal. You’re leaving the only place you’ve ever known to embark on a new life.”
“Not helping.”
“Sorry,” he mutters, amusement filling his voice as he backs away from the house we’ve both spent so much time in over the past few months.
As soon as our lockdown was lifted after the scary numbers from the virus started to decline, we spent what was left of the summer enjoying time for just the two of us. We spent hours walking on the beach, chatting about what college life might hold for us. I’d managed to submit everything that needed doing and my application to go to Maddison to study art was accepted. Everything was about to change, but it all seemed so much easier knowing that he was going to be there.
I wasn’t the only one heading to Maddison. I had plenty of friends going to the same university, so I knew I had support.
Emerson chats about what to expect for my first few weeks as a college student. He talks about the parties, the drinking, and briefly touches on classes.
“Emerson, aren’t dorms that way?” I ask when he sails past what I thought was the turn to my new home.
“Yep. But we’re not going down there.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Ten minutes later and we’re pulling into a small car lot behind what looks like an apartment building.
“What’s this place?”
“Just wait. Come on.”
He jumps out of the car and my curiosity ensures I follow him.
Pulling keys from his pocket, he opens up the front door and then pulls me toward a set of stairs and up to the top floor.
“Here,” he says, coming to a stop in front of a door. “Close your eyes.”
“What?”
“Ugh, fine.” His large hand wraps around my face, efficiently cutting off my sight.
“Emerson, what the hell is this?”
The sound of the door opening fills my ears before he pushes me forward.
“Welcome home, baby.” He pulls his hand from my face and after blinking a couple of times, a fully furnished living room comes into view.
“What the hell?”
“Surprise.”
“Wha…”
I spin on the spot, taking everything in. But it’s not until I spot a couple of photographs of the two of us on a shelf that things start to register.
“This is our house?”
“It sure is, baby.”
“What about dorms?”
He shrugs.
“What about my parents?”
“In on it.”
A laugh falls from my lips. “So… this is where I’m living? With you? Just the two of us?”
“If you’ll have me.”
“Oh my god, this is incredible, Emerson. Thank you.” I launch myself at him and crash my lips to his, and right there in the center of our new living room, we embark on our future together as a couple. I can see a few more days of lockdown together in our future.
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About the Author
Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
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LOVE IN LOCKDOWN: A Charity Anthology Page 45