"Proud. You chose your dreams over security." I cup his face in my hands. "You chose to be yourself instead of what Leo wanted you to be."
"You're not upset?" The vulnerability in his voice breaks my heart a little.
"Upset? Why would I be upset?"
"Because it's half a million dollars. Because I didn't discuss it with you first. Because—"
I kiss him softly. "You turned it down because you wanted to."
He searches my face, like he's looking for doubt or anger and not finding it. "You're really okay with this?"
"Okay with it? Wyatt, I'm inspired by it." I take his hands in mine. "Do you know what it means to me? Seeing you choose your dreams over money? Watching you be brave enough to walk away from 'security' to follow your dreams?"
"Snow—"
"You've been telling me for months that authenticity matters more than security. That I'm strong enough to stand on my own. That choosing myself isn't selfish." My voice catches. "And now you're living it. You're proving it."
His eyes shine with something that might be tears. "You really mean that."
"I really do." I rest my forehead against his. "I'm so proud of you for being brave enough to do this. For knowing who you are and what you want. For not letting money or pressure or anyone else's expectations change that."
"Even if it means we'll be eating a lot of ramen while I build the gallery?"
I laugh through my own tears. "Even then."
He pulls me close, burying his face in my hair. "I was so afraid you'd think I was being reckless or irresponsible."
"Never." I hold him tighter. "You're being true to yourself. That's the man I fell in love with."
He pulls back to look at me, his eyes searching mine. "You really fell in love with me?"
"Past tense," I say softly. "I fell in love with you months ago. Present tense? I love you."
"Say it again."
"I love you, Wyatt Ford." My voice is steady, sure, completely certain. "I love who you are. I love that you're making your dreams come true."
He kisses me then, deep and slow and full of promise. When we break apart, we're both crying a little.
"So," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "You really want to split ramen costs with a struggling photographer?"
"I really do." I grin at him. "Though I think we should celebrate tonight with something better than ramen. This deserves champagne."
"Celebrating my financial irresponsibility?"
I take his face in my hands. "This isn't irresponsible, Wyatt. This is you finally taking yourself seriously. And I'm here for all of it."
His arms tighten around me. "I can't believe you're real sometimes."
"I'm real. You're real." I pull back to look at him. "And we're going to build something amazing together. Both of us choosing ourselves, choosing each other, over everything else."
"Partners," he says softly.
"Partners," I agree.
Chapter 30
Snow
