"You should."
"Why?"
"Because I'm a mess. Because I don't know how to do this. Because everyone who gets close to me ends up leaving, and I can't—" My voice breaks. "I can't survive you leaving, too."
"Then it's a good thing I'm not going anywhere."
"You don't know that."
"I do." He closes the distance between us, hands coming up to frame my face. "I've known it for years. I just had to wait for you to catch up."
"Gunnar—"
"I love you."
The words stop everything.
My breath.
My heart.
My ability to think.
"You don't?—"
"I do. I'm in love with you. Have been for years, and I'm done pretending I'm not."
Tears spill over, running down my cheeks into his palms. "I don't know how to do this," I whisper.
"Then we'll figure it out together." His thumbs brush away my tears. "But no more running. No more pushing me away. No more pretending this doesn't matter. Just give us a chance, sweet girl."
"What if I mess it up?"
"Then we'll deal with it. Together."
"What if I'm not enough?"
"You're everything."
The word breaks something open inside me.
Everything.
Not just good enough.
Not just worth keeping.
Everything.
"I'm so scared," I admit.
"I know. But I've got you. I promise."
And for the first time in years, I let myself believe it.
Let myself lean into him.
Let myself be held.
