31
Cassidy
Thank you?What the hell is wrong with me?
He told me he loved me. Three words I’ve been struggling to hold in and, when it was finally the perfect time to say them, I didn’t. Words have never been an issue for me. When a guy at the bar makes an inappropriate comment, I can turn it back around on him on a dime. But the man I love says he loves me for the first time, and my brain turns to oatmeal.
Pregnancy brain. It’s gotta be.
We walked to the cabin in silence, with me holding tight to his arm and even tighter to my emotions. Knowing my tears would probably freeze before they had the chance to fall was the only thing keeping me from falling apart. Then he stoked the fire inside the log cabin and said he was heading out to grab more wood.
I stare at a pile of perfectly stacked firewood—more than enough for the night, I’m sure—and reach for my phone.
Cass:EMERGENCY. He told me he loves me and I said thank you.
Shelby:THANK YOU?!
Blair:Cackling. Maniacally. Thank YOU for this.
Cass:Very helpful, assholes
Blair:Okay, okay. What did he do when you THANKED HIM?
Shelby:Didn’t you tell Derek you loved him after like 2 weeks? Why the fuck are you suddenly gun shy?
Blair:Because this time she means it. Also, she’s a dumbass.
Cass:Rude.
Shelby:Doesn’t deny it though
Blair:Quit talking to us and tell him how you feel
Shelby:Say it louder for the dumbass in the back
Blair:GO TELL HIM
Cass:Fuck both of you.
Snagging my thick puffer coat from the couch, I race out the door, careful not to slip down the icy front steps. The path to the woodshed isn’t much better, and I hold my arms out to keep my balance.
Probably could’ve waited until he got back to the cabin, dumbass.
“Chase!” I skate toward him, unsure if the somersaults happening in my stomach are from the baby or my nerves. Hearing my voice, he drops the wood bundled in his arms and charges toward me.
“What’s—are you okay?” He grips my forearms, searching my eyes to figure out why I’m out here. In the cold. In a dress. I’m sure the look on my face is conveying panic, too.
“I love you,” I blurt out. “I don’t know why I didn’t say that earlier.Shit, why I didn’t say it weeks ago, but I do… love you.”
“And you had to race out here to tell me right this second?” He raises a brow—a smug smile popping up on his face. “Sweetheart, I already knew. You didn’t need to chase me down when I was coming right back.”
Fuck right off.I shake my head. “Bullshit. You’re going to stand here and tell me you knew how I felt before I did?”
“After the rodeo you told me to ignore you like I usually do. But, Cass, I’veneverignored you. Sure, we weren’t exactly friends, and I didn’t know you like I do now. But I didn’t ignore you.”
I pull my jacket tighter around me and stare at him without speaking. I’m entirely unsure of what point he’s trying to make.
“You had a friendship bracelet business in elementary school, remember?”
