Touch Me

Another Hundred People

"I love you" I shook my head in slight disbelief

"I love you too." He left a kiss on my cheek "and I love your smile.. that smile has helped me through so many hard times.. it's optimistic but it's not unrealistic or fake. It's an honest smile.. and a bright one at that, it lights up the room."

"Kev.." I whispered, my cheeks pink

"..I like the way your laugh sounds. And I like how when you get embarrassed, you hide your face, and how you fidget when you're nervous. And I love how honest you are with me.. you tell me what I need to be told. If I'm worrying or frightening you, if I'm doing something dumb. You're honest with me, that's exactly what I need."

"Well I need that too.. you don't enable me or coddle me. You comfort me, b-but you don't take it to far. You tell me what you have to.. you used to not know how, but as we grew, you learned what to do. You don't let me hurt myself, but you don't make me feel like shit if I do. You give me... tough love at times, and that's what I need sometimes. When I'm hurting or doing something stupid, I need tough love, not to be coddled. You give me the perfect amount of each.. I don't know where I'd be without that. I love you so much for that. You love me and comfort me, but you don't enable me.."

"Well, I care about you. I'm never going to yell at you or be mad at you for slipping up and making a mistake. But I'm not going to make it so that you do it again later. I want to deter it, I don't want you getting hurt. I'm not going to just let you go around and hurt yourself, but I'm not going to make you feel badly for it, either. You don't deserve that."

"You're wonderful.."

"I'm just trying to give you a little bit of all you deserve."

"..Can I tell you what.. what I like about you?"

"Please"

"I like your sense of humor. And how you're so quietly smart.. you don't seem to care that you're smart, you don't even think about it. It's just such a natural part of you... and I-I love how you protect me. And your mother. As long as you're with us, nobody's going to hurt us. And if they try, they're going to get their ass whooped." I giggled

"That's true, anyone who tries to hurt you is a dead man"

".. and I like when you wake up in the morning and your eyes are all sleepy. And you have that little smile.. and your hair's messy from bed, and you kiss me good morning.. and- and I like how you drink your disgusting black coffee in your underwear and socks and read the paper like some dad in a children's movie. I really like when you're drawing and painting and you're just lost in the work.. it consumes your world for that moment in time. You look tranquil and happy.. the light bounces off your glasses. It's nice.. a-and I like when you hum while you're cooking and.. when you're engrossed in your work and you lean your head on your hand.."

"You just like everything about me, don't you?" He chuckled

"I do.."

"..I've been thinking of something."

"What would that be?"

"..law. I've been thinking about law. I-I like my line of work, but not the job. And there are more opportunities within the job on the law route. And I've always been interested in law.. and since it'd be company oriented, the schooling would be partially covered by the company. The opportunities are higher too.. do you think I should?"

"Well, is this something you want?"

"Yeah.. but it's riskier than just staying where I am in the business. I like the company, and if I rise up on the legal team of it, it'll be a fantastic opportunity.."