The Tragedy of Felix and Jake: A Forbidden Standalone Romance

Today, I am eight hundred and twenty-seven days sober.
My name is Jake Tully and I’m an addict. And I’ll always be an addict. I’ll never beat this.
But I’ll keep going to meetings, and I’ll talk to my sponsor (who I’m going to ask to marry me), and I’ll fight this until I win.
We are going to win.

“You love me how I’ve always wanted to be loved. You make up for all those years, Jake.” He kisses me. “And I’d still say yes. Just saying.”
“I’m not proposing to you in a cemetery.”
“Technically, we’re in the parking lot surrounding the cemetery.”
“It’s still fucking creepy.”
“Creepy or romantic.”
“Creepy.”
“Or—

“Everything you’d be losing. Like getting married?”
“Sure.” He clears his throat and drops his hands too quickly as he looks anywhere but my face. “If that’s something you want to do… I’d be okay with whatever. We don’t have to let everyone know I’m yours or wear matching rings to signify our love and commitment. I’ll get over wanting something official like that and becoming a real family. It’s not a big deal. Just my greatest dream.”
I smirk. “Your greatest dream, huh.”
“I can have other dreams. It’s fine.”
“So I shouldn’t ask you to marry me then?”
His head jerks and we lock eyes. “Yes, you fucking should. Did you just ask me?”
“No. We’re at a cemetery…”

He smells like home.

“Tell me you love me,” he says.
“I love you.”
It feels like the easiest thing I’ve ever said.

Are you really going to drive six hours one way just to spend a day with me?”
“I’d drive six hours one way just to spend an hour with you.”

I love that my brother cares enough to worry. I just wish I didn’t give him reason to.

“I think you should get a dog,” I say, trying to distract myself from the impending loneliness I’m about to be hit with. “And don’t give me that, but I’m a Capricorn, Jake, bullshit. Get a dog. One that barks and lets you know when dickheads pull up in front of the house.”
Felix cocks his head. “A big dog?”
“I wouldn’t get a small one. Bella would probably kill it.”
“Oh, really? I thought my cat was so sweet and not a bitch at all, Felix. What happened?”

“But I love you,” I whimper.
“I love you too. I’m not going to stop.”
“It feels like you are…”
It feels like you already have.
“You’re my fucking soulmate, Felix, and I don’t even believe in that shit.”

I want to matter to someone every day forever.
And I want that someone to be Jake.