“Man. I’m glad this day’s over,” he says as he wraps an arm around my waist from behind. “Let’s go to the park. We can watch the stoners and the supposedly cool people.”
“Okay. Sure.” I pull the ACT study guides out of my locker and shove them into my backpack. After we do our people watching, we’ll find a quiet spot for me to work in some study.
As we walk out to Saul’s car, I take his hand. That’s something I would never have done in the past. Every time Saul put his arm around me or kissed me in school, I worried about what kind of reaction the gesture might get us from the other kids. I don’t worry about that anymore. The kids here already think I’m some kind of freak, and now I wonder why I ever cared what they thought of me. In a few months, I’ll be gone from this school for good, and I’ll probably never see most of them again. I want to hold my boyfriend’s hand now, so I do, and that’s all that matters.
It feels good to toss my backpack onto the backseat with Saul’s and forget about homework assignments and studying for a while. It feels good to let all the windows down on the car, to put some rock music on the radio, to sing along in loud, wildly off-key voices as we drive through a warm, sunny afternoon with spring dancing in the air. It feels good to not have fear and worry sitting on my shoulders like unwanted pets, to have a direction for my life.
And it’s great to share this little uncomplicated time with my boyfriend. I believe Saul’s right. Everything is going to be okay.
About the Author
GENE GANT grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and lives with his family in a quiet little rural community just outside the city.
By GENE GANT
NOVELS
The Battle for Jericho
The Thunder in His Head
Lessons on Destroying the World
NOVELLAS
Everything We Shut Our Eyes To
If You Really Love Me
Published by HARMONY INK PRESS
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Also from GENE GANT
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Also from GENE GANT
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Also from GENE GANT
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Also from GENE GANT
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Published by
Harmony Ink Press
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Suite 2, PMB# 279
Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886
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publisher@harmonyinkpress.com
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
If You Really Love Me
© 2014 Gene Gant.
Cover Art
© 2014 Paul Richmond.
http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Harmony Ink Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or publisher@harmonyinkpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-62798-941-1
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition
May 2014