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Back The Companion Project
Chapters (89)
  1. Dedication
  2. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  3. ONE
  4. HENRY
  5. TWO
  6. EMMA
  7. THREE
  8. HENRY
  9. FOUR
  10. EMMA
  11. FIVE
  12. EMMA
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. HENRY
  16. EIGHT
  17. NINE
  18. TEN
  19. HENRY
  20. ELEVEN
  21. TWELVE
  22. EMMA
  23. THIRTEEN
  24. HENRY
  25. FOURTEEN
  26. HENRY
  27. FIFTEEN
  28. SIXTEEN
  29. EMMA
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. HENRY
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. HENRY
  34. NINETEEN
  35. HENRY
  36. TWENTY
  37. TWENTY-ONE
  38. EMMA
  39. TWENTY-TWO
  40. EMMA
  41. TWENTY-THREE
  42. HENRY
  43. TWENTY-FOUR
  44. EMMA
  45. TWENTY-FIVE
  46. EMMA
  47. TWENTY-SIX
  48. EMMA
  49. TWENTY-SEVEN
  50. HENRY
  51. TWENTY-EIGHT
  52. EMMA
  53. TWENTY-NINE
  54. HENRY
  55. THIRTY
  56. HENRY
  57. THIRTY-ONE
  58. HENRY
  59. THIRTY-TWO
  60. EMMA
  61. THIRTY-THREE
  62. HENRY
  63. THIRTY-FOUR
  64. EMMA
  65. THIRTY-FIVE
  66. EMMA
  67. THIRTY-SIX
  68. HENRY
  69. THIRTY-SEVEN
  70. EMMA
  71. THIRTY-EIGHT
  72. HENRY
  73. THIRTY-NINE
  74. HENRY
  75. FORTY
  76. EMMA
  77. FORTY-ONE
  78. HENRY
  79. FORTY-TWO
  80. FORTY-THREE
  81. EMMA
  82. FORTY-FOUR
  83. EMMA
  84. FORTY-FIVE
  85. HENRY
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“I’m not asking you to say anything back. I’m not asking you to forgive me. What I did was wrong. It was cruel. If our roles were switched, I’d hate me, too. I just couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t fully express to you what you mean to me. If you walk away, it’ll be okay, baby. I’ll be okay. The only person I resent is myself, for all the time I’ve wasted. For all the words I haven’t spoken. For all the kisses I haven’t stolen. For not being there to celebrate your highs and soothe you during your lows. And for letting you slip away. Again.”

The quiver in his tone causes me to ache, the fissure growing deeper and deeper.

“How many sunflowers are there?”

Henry pauses, glancing around the room. “6,205. One for roughly every day I’ve known you existed. Give or take. God, what I would give to go back and do high school and the past few years again.”

I shake my head violently. “I don’t want to go back.”

“You don’t?”

“No. I got to know you in a way no one else does. I got to know you as Henry, not Henry.”

“And there’s a difference, I’m assuming?”

“Mhm. Henry, everyone knows and loves. Henry is recognized out and about, always with friends. I knew bits and pieces of that Henry. But Henry is more open. He shares what’s on his mind. His hopes and dreams and fears. He’s funny and thoughtful. Encouraging. He makes me laugh. He holds me tight, keeping me safe in his arms. He fucks me hard and fast one night and wakes me up by making love to me in the early morning. ”

“Which one do you like best? Tell me, and I’ll be that version of him for you.”

“Both. I love both. I love you. Every part of you.”

His neck jerks as he stares at me. “You love me?”

I nod, not believing I said the words out loud. How can I not love him?

This man has possessed my entire being and opened my eyes to what a relationship could—and should—look like. He carries Band-Aids in his pockets and fights to defend my honor. He never pushes me past my limits and constantly supports the decisions I make. He’s fiercely protective, remorseful about his mistakes, and has been harboring deep feelings toward me for years.

I strongly considered walking away and never looking back. Up until two hours ago, I still thought it was a possibility. Now that I’m here, standing in front of him, his hand just out of reach, I know that even with his transgression, I don’t want to be with anyone else. I can’t be with anyone else. And what’s love without forgiveness and growth through the pain?