Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

OKAY. SO, MEETING REN’S PARENTS IN PERSON WAS A SHIT TON MORE
stressful than I thought. I felt like some sneaky teenager who’d almost been
caught making out in the basement. They don’t know I’ve savored their son’s
breathtaking body with desire guiding my hands. They don’t know that he makes
his mother’s cinnamon roll recipe for me and kisses my forehead every morning
when he hands me my coffee. They don’t know that I’ve laced profanity with his
name so many times as he made me come apart.
And if I have my druthers, they never will.
I also felt a tad awkward, first because I snuck Ziggy’s number from Ren’s
phone, texted her and asked her if she was okay with my idea—which I simply
presented as an opportunity to get her parents out of her hair and talk, girl-togirl.
While the idea was born out of wanting to get Ren’s parents to a damn
game already, fact is, I do want to be a friend to Ziggy, to give her some
encouragement I could have used when I was first diagnosed. I’m reaching out
not only because of this heart-spinning feeling I have for Ren, but also out of
genuine concern for Ziggy and a wish to know her better.
So, then came calling Mrs. Bergman, explaining I was a good friend of Ren’s
who knew Ziggy and wanted to offer to hang out with her as another woman on
the spectrum, have a heart-to-heart. I told her Ren wasn’t in on this—that I
wanted to surprise him with their presence. After which Mrs. Bergman sounded
pretty wary. I asked her to use Willa and Ryder as a character reference and call
me back.
She called me not even ten minutes later, sounding a lot nicer than before.
See, Willa and I are friends. So there.
When I got to Ren’s beautiful childhood home—sprawling calm, a sea of
creamy white walls and natural wood, it was surreal to put a face to his mother’s
voice, to see Ren’s eyes and cheekbones in her features. Then greeting his dad
with that booming voice and wide smile that I knew instantly he’d given Ren,
along with his wavy, copper-penny hair, and broad, powerful build. I was so
nervous, my palms were slick with sweat, and my heart was banging against my
ribs.
But once they left, most of my anxiety left with them, leaving just enough
nervousness about doing right by Ziggy as I try to reach out to her.
She stares at the TV, watching the hockey game. The second I glance at the
screen, I can pinpoint Ren. Taller than everyone, swooping around the goal. A
lick of russet curling around his helmet.