Constructing the Soul

by Annabella Michaels

  I reached up and locked my wrists together around his neck, clinging to him as he carried me away to a place where nothing existed except for the feel of his hands on my body. Morgan moved his hand faster as my breathing became erratic and my heart threatened to leap out of my chest.

  “Morgan,” I shouted and then I was flying. My legs felt weak, but I didn’t need to worry about falling because he lifted me up into his arms. My legs wrapped around his waist and he carried me into our bedroom where he set me down and then began drying me off with a towel. I tried to reach for him, wanting to make him feel good too, but he shook his head.

  “This was about you,” he told me.

  I looked up at him and wondered what it was I’d ever done to deserve a man like Morgan Greene and then I smiled when I realized that he was looking back at me the same way. I supposed we both were lucky to have found each other and in this crazy, messed-up world, if you were lucky enough to find that someone special, then you better hold on tight and not let go. At least, that was the plan with Morgan and me because he was my happy place, my true north, my soulmate.

  A couple of hours later we walked around the building of the new Agape House. Morgan led the group, the people who had originally developed the plan to expand and renew the LGBTQA teen center and I saw how impressed they were as they saw what all our hard work had brought forth. My heart filled with pride as I listened to Morgan tell them that the center would now be able to serve hundreds more teens each day than it was currently able to do. Matt’s eyes lit up when he heard that and he and Isaac shared an excited look.

  “You’ve done a brilliant job. I’d like to talk to you later about another project I’m interested in starting,” Lachlan told Morgan, but Rylie stopped him before he could go any further.

  “No shop talk. You can talk business any other night you want, but tonight is for celebrating,” he scolded his husband gently.

  “You’re right, I’m sorry.” Lachlan kissed Rylie on the lips and then slipped Morgan his business card when his husband wasn’t looking. “Call me tomorrow,” he whispered.

  Morgan smiled and slipped the card into his pocket before turning towards the rest of the group which was comprised of friends and family. His parents had come to Chicago to partake in the grand opening celebration and had immediately hit it off with my parents who were there as well. Our mothers, in particular, became fast friends and I’d caught them over in the corner whispering to each other on more than one occasion. The first time I’d caught them, I’d looked to Morgan for help, but he’d just shrugged his shoulders and said that it beat the alternative. I had to agree, but it was still a little unsettling.

  “You did an amazing job,” Caleb said, giving Morgan a hug. Carter was next, saying that he never had a doubt. Morgan thanked them, but modestly protested that it was very much a group effort.

  “It was a group effort,” Landon agreed. “But because a lot of our group was busy with other projects, the bulk of the responsibility landed on the shoulders of you two.” He pointed to Morgan and me. “You two make a pretty great team if I do say so myself.”

  Everyone cheered that sentiment and I felt my face flush with embarrassment and maybe just a hint of pride. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was nearly time for the rest of the guests to arrive so I started to suggest that we move back down to the main entrance when Morgan began speaking. I turned to face him and froze when I saw him with one knee on the floor in front of me. My eyes shot up to the rest of the group, hoping they could explain what was happening, but the excited looks on their faces told me that they were in on the surprise. My mother’s eyes were glossy and a huge smile lit her face as she held onto my dad and then I looked back down at Morgan who was waiting patiently for my full attention.

  “I never expected to find someone like you when I moved to Chicago, in fact, I wasn’t even looking, but I suppose it’s right what they say about finding love when you least expect it because you turned out to be the best surprise and my greatest joy. You’ve taught me how to laugh at the simplest things, how to trust someone else with my heart, and how to love more fiercely than I ever thought possible. I came here thinking I was broken, but you showed me that that was not the case; all I needed was the right partner and once we found each other, we became stronger together.”

  Tears ran down my face as I watched him pull a small black box from his pocket and open it up. Inside, were two matching silver bands. He lifted the smaller of the two out of the box and held it up as he took my hand in his.

  “Akio Forrest, I love you with all my heart and I want to spend the rest of my life proving it to you. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” I said through my tears, nodding my head for emphasis.

  I watched as he slid the ring onto my finger and then I was wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him as he stood up to his full height, lifting my feet off the floor. Everyone cheered around us and there were a few tears other than my own, but it was okay because they were all happy tears. Once he set me back on the floor, they all took turns congratulating us. Ryan whispered something to his husband who then shouted a loud “Yes!” while pumping his fist in the air.

  “I guess Cryan won’t be the only bad name around anymore,” he said excitedly. We all looked at him in confusion so he went on to explain. “When you two get married, you’ll be Forrest-Greene,” he said with a laugh.

  I turned to Morgan and his eyes were as wide as mine. How had we never realized that before? Then he grabbed me and kissed me until I forgot about silly names and grand openings and even the fact that our mothers were standing where they could see us. The only thought going through my mind at that moment was that as happy as I was right then, I knew that it was just the beginning of the happiness I would experience in my future with Morgan.

  I smiled as I looked around at the new building. The new center was much bigger than the old facility and we’d be able to help so many more kids. Lately, we’d seen a rise in teens that had been kicked out of their homes or needed to run away to escape an abusive parent or were just living in such terrible conditions that they needed a helping hand. Whatever their reason for coming to the center, they all had one thing in common, they were all members of the LGBTQA community.

  It hadn’t been that long ago that I was one of the teenagers that needed the center. I didn’t allow myself to think about the circumstances that had led me to seek refuge at Agape House very often, choosing to focus on the positive things that had happened since I first walked through those doors instead.

  Agape House had changed the course of my life, just as it had done and would continue to do for countless other teens and it was all because of the man standing next to me. Matt was the first face I saw when I walked through those doors so many years ago. I’d been wary of him at first, which was completely understandable given the situation, but after getting to know him as a teen and then working with him as an adult, I found it laughable that I’d ever been afraid to be around him. He was an amazing man with a huge heart and a kind soul. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need, yet rarely shared any personal information about himself. I looked up at Matt as he looked out over the crowd with a small smile on his face and he smiled wider when he caught me looking at him.

  “This is really something, isn’t it?” I said.

  “It sure is. It’s still a bit mind-boggling that someone would take such an interest in my little center and want to help in such a big way. This new building will change everything,” he replied.

  “Well, they’re a great group of people for sure, but I bet none of them would have fallen in love with the center if it wasn’t for you and the work you’re doing to improve the lives of those kids. You’re the heart and soul of this organization,” I told him, speaking passionately because it meant that much to me.

  “I don’t really do all that much. It’s the kids who are the heart of the center,” he replied modestly. I shook my head with a smile. That was typi
cal Matt, always deflecting any attention given, away from himself.

  I looked out over the room and smiled as I watched my friends. Giovanni and Caleb were kneeling on the floor talking animatedly to their daughter, Sarah, as if they were telling her a story. Carter had his hand in Ryan’s back pocket as they talked to Lachlan and Rylie. Every so often, I’d see Ryan glance down at his husband, giving him a very heated look and I could only imagine what Carter was doing with that hand.

  Landon and his husband, Micah, were talking with Landon’s parents and I watched as Micah reached up and put his hand on the back of Landon’s neck, letting him feel their connection. And then there was Morgan and Akio who were standing in a corner, talking quietly. Every once in a while, they’d glance down at the rings on their fingers and then give each other a look that was so intimate that I knew for them, they were the only two people in the room.

  “I hope I find a love like that someday,” I said wistfully, not referring to any one couple in particular. As far as I was concerned, they all had found the kind of love I’d like to have; the kind that lasts forever and defies all logic.

  “I hope you do too,” Matt murmured quietly and I thought I detected a hint of sadness in his voice. My heart squeezed at the thought of anything hurting Matt.

  I glanced over at him and opened my mouth, but then shut it right away. I could tell that there was something in Matt’s past that was haunting him and I wished that he would open up and let me in, but I knew, better than most, how painful it could be to revisit the past, so I let it go. I was still watching Matt when suddenly his back straightened and his eyes grew wide. He looked startled.

  I turned my head to see what had caused his reaction and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the gorgeous man walking towards us. He was tall, even taller than Matt, with broad shoulders and biceps that would probably rip the sleeves of his shirt if he were to flex at all. He was wearing black dress pants, and a gray polo shirt, making him look both stylish and sophisticated.

  He had beautiful ebony skin and full lips and his eyes were…his eyes were zeroed in on Matt and the look he was giving Matt could only be described as…hungry. I quickly looked at Matt and saw that his attention was still focused on the man. The look in Matt’s eyes was a mixture of heat and confusion and something else that I wasn’t quite sure of, but if I had to guess, I’d have to say…guilt?

  My stomach knotted as I continued to watch the two men. There was an electric charge in the air that I’d felt on a few other occasions, but now it seemed stronger and I wasn’t sure if it was coming from the two of them or if it was my own reaction.

  Just as the stranger was about to reach us, he turned his eyes on me and those warm brown eyes widened just a fraction and then heated further. I could feel my body starting to respond to him, which surprised me because I had only ever reacted that way to one other man. His eyes bounced back and forth between Matt and me and he looked just as confused as I felt. When he was standing in front of us he spoke and his voice was rich and deep and it caused goose bumps to break out across my skin.

  “Which one of you is Matt?” he asked.

  “I am,” Matt answered gruffly and then cleared his throat. He looked nervous and I could see sweat beading above Matt’s brow. The stranger moved his head and my legs turned to jelly as I became the focus of his attention.

  “Then you must be Isaac.” He smiled, showing a row of perfectly straight teeth. It was a friendly smile, warm and inviting and my instincts kicked in, letting me know that he was safe.

  “Yes,” I said weakly. I tried to think of something else to add, but the synapses in my brain were too busy misfiring.

  “It’s nice to meet both of you,” he said, sticking his hand out to shake first Matt’s hand and then mine.

  He stared at Matt as they shook hands, but Matt pulled away quickly, looking down at his hand as if he’d been shocked. He looked back up at the stranger in confusion. He shook mine next and I watched as his large hand engulfed my smaller one. It was warm and soft and I felt a current of electricity that traveled from my hand all the way up the back of my neck and out the top of my head. I looked at him in surprise and he was staring back at me, his head tilted to the side and I could see the questions behind those eyes. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any answers as to what was going on.

  I looked to Matt, because he’d always been the one I turned to, but his eyes were going back and forth between the stranger and myself. He paused on me and when he looked at me, it was as if he were seeing me for the first time. His tongue darted out to wet his lips and I felt a stirring in my groin. That wasn’t anything new, but the way he was looking at me was. I felt off kilter and I wasn’t sure what was going on with me or with Matt who had always been the strong and steady one of the two of us. Who was this man and what did he want?

  “What’s your name?” I asked. His brown eyes turned to me and my skin heated under his gaze.

  “My name is Hudson.”

  Thank you once again to my husband and my children. You three are my rock, my strength and my foundation upon which everything else is built. Everything I do is done with you three in mind and I hope I always make you proud.

  To Deena, who has been there through all of the ups and downs, good days and bad and has remained steady and true through it all. I hope I am able to give you even half of the friendship that you’ve shown me.

  To Kerry for always supporting me, encouraging me and being my biggest cheerleader throughout life. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have a sister like you.

  To Aimee, for all of your enthusiasm, encouragement and putting up with my endless questions. I’m looking forward to working with you and seeing what crazy things we will come up with together.

  To my amazing team: Pam Ebeler, thank you for your kindness, your expertise and your patience when dealing with my crazy. Thank you also for loving my guys almost as much as I do, sometimes to the point of late night, teary messages. LOL. I think you are remarkable and I’m very lucky to call you friend. Jay Aheer, thank you for your stunning creations. Time and time again, you take what I have only imagined in my mind and you bring it to life in the most beautiful ways. Thank you for your patience, your thoughtfulness and your friendship. Judy Zweifel, thank you for taking the time to make sure my books are the best they can be and for your patience and understanding. Stacey Blake, thank you for the time you spend adding in the extra touches that make my books so special. To my betas, Jodie Temple, Allison Holzapfel, Lee Rey, Jenn Gibson, Melissa McIntyre, Nemerald, Lori Gries and Wendy Maples. Thank you for your willingness to read my story and for sharing such great feedback. Your encouragement, enthusiasm and friendship mean the world to me. You guys are all incredible and I couldn’t do this job without each and every one of you.

  I am married to my high school sweetheart who let’s face it, is a saint for putting up with me all of these years. Together we have been blessed with the chance to raise two amazing human beings and so far we haven’t screwed it up; I’ll let you know for sure later. I am a business owner and spend more time laughing than actually working most days. I love watching movies, cooking, going to the beach and spending time with my family and best friends. I am an obsessive reader who is a complete sucker for a good love story, but loves to feel a broad range of emotions throughout a book. I think real life is hard enough and so my books offer twists and turns, but always with a happy ending.

  I love to hear from my readers. You can reach me at:

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