The Only Exception

Based on the song "The Only Exception" by Paramore

Lexi allowed her eyes to roam the bare-chested man sleeping next to her. He was resting so peacefully. The way his chest would rise and fall had held her interest and could keep her interest for countless hours She sighed and wondered how she managed to get to this place in her life.

The beautiful face of PJ Lloyd, Jr. had captivated her attention. She had sworn off love for good. Her parents were divorced. In fact, her mother had been divorced five times already, and her father, three times. Lexi herself had been hurt so many times before that she had given up. Allowing PJ to have a chance was almost impossible, and if he hadn't had been so persistent, it would have never happened. But having had been together for the past eight months, she was glad she went against her better judgment. She hoped that he felt the same way, even after all of the hell and hard times she brought his way.

PJ made Lexi feel differently. He treated her as if she mattered, and it made all of the difference in the world. The way he'd take her out, even just to drive around and talk or bring her to a nearby playground and push her on a swing; the way he'd hold her when they slept; the way he would give her a smile and wink in a room full of people, usually followed by a simple kiss on her head; the way he would whisper sweet nothings in her ear, while they made love; it was the little things that made her feel confident in their relationship.

Lexi gently ran her hand across the soft, tanned skin of his arm, the feel of her skin sending tiny shocks through her body. PJ stirred in his sleep, slowly opening his eyes.

"Hey baby, are you okay?" he asked, his voice still taken over by sleep.

She nodded slowly. "I'm okay," she whispered, her voice not completely convincing.

He turned on his side, resting his hand on her waist, as they were facing each other. "Are you sure?" he questioned, his eyes glancing at the time on the cable box across the room. "It's almost four in the morning, and you're awake."

"Sometimes when I can't sleep…I just like to look at you and think about how lucky I am."

"You're not that lucky, Lex. I'm the lucky one. I've got myself the most incredible girlfriend.

She smiled lazily. "Seriously, PJ, you don't understand." "I am serious. I have someone who truly makes me happy."

"I swore that I'd be alone forever, but…you're the only exception I'll ever make, PJ."

"I love you, Lexi. Don't forget that…ever. You're the only woman that I ever want to be with," he assured her.

She smiled again. "I love you, too."

He leaned in, pulling her body closer to his, as his lips captured hers.

Lexi knew that she had made the right choice for her exception. He was the single most important person in her life, and she was in love wit him. After years of believing that love was nothing more than a four-letter word created by the greeting card industry to exploit gullible, vulnerable people, Lexi had felt true love, and she was glad that she had given PJ the chance that he worked so hard for because he showed her what it meant to be in love.