Ninety-six

We are in our cocoon of happiness when El says, “I like you, Brandon.” She brings my hand to her chest and I touch my forehead to hers. We still need to talk about the diary, Brianna’s future. “I really do.” 

“Love,” I correct. “You love me, El.”

“I love you, Brandon.” 

Her eyes close, she breathes me in. I feel like an ass for ruining the moment but we cannot truly move forward if she doesn’t know the truth. I fear she will reject Brianna. But I shouldn’t be scared. This is El.

“I owe you an apology too,” I say. My fingers run through her hair and she hums in approval.

El wraps herself around me, hides her face in my chest. My jaw rests on her head, the position lends me strength I didn’t know I needed and my shoulders fall in relief. This shouldn’t be hard to talk about.

“For what?” 

“For what I said. You were not the reason my life was falling apart at that point.” It was as a result of my mistakes. If I didn’