“Because now you’re just being violent with yourself and I won’t let you do that,” I say, my thumbs smoothing up her cheeks. “I already forgave you, Natalia.”
“You shouldn’t have let me off that easily.”
“Well, I did, because I love you and you’re mine and I’m yours and there isn’t anything more important than those three things to me.” I kiss her lips. “My entire world has revolved around you since the moment I first saw you and that won’t ever change.”
“Not now?—”
“Not ever,” I push, dropping my hands from her cheeks towrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest. “Sweetheart, I love you. Oh my god, I fucking love you, and I don’t think that word is enough for everything I feel for you.”
Natalia’s bottom lip wobbles.
“Just because your mind plays mean tricks on you doesn’t mean I won’t be here,” I say softly, my hands splayed on her back, feeling her warm skin burn through my palms. “You forget, I understand you. Iknowyou.”
“I know you do,” she rasps. “I’m not being fair to you, I’m sorry.”
I exhale. This will take time.
“But… You should know that there are so many things I like about you.”
My heart skips. “Pick one.”
“Your favorite color is green and it reminds me of purple,” she whispers, I remain silently confused for a moment. “You always eat mozzarella sticks with me, but I know you don’t like cheese.”
“I eat it because of you.”
“I know but I don’t get why—I see the way your face gets when you eat cheese.”
“Fine,” I say. “I hate cheese.
She chuckles.
“What else, sweetheart?”
“Your hair,” she murmurs, her fingers brushing through the strands. “I love your blond hair. Butonlyyour shade of blond. Every other blond isn’t as pretty as yours.”
I laugh. “Yeah?”
She nods. “You treat Grace like a princess and you treat our friends like family. You love with your entire heart, Rowan, and I got so lucky.”
Only this girl can make my cheeks flame and hurt like this. Only ever her. Only, always, forever her.
“And your middle name,” she whispers suddenly. “I love that I’m the only one who knows what it is.”
I lick over my teeth. “I should’ve never told you that.”
“Oh, but you did.”
I shake my head. “Ugh.”
“Rowan.” She kisses the corner of my mouth. “Arthur.” She kisses the other corner as I chuckle through my grin. “Asher.” Finally, she kisses my lips.
“To be fair, I have no idea where that name came from.”
Natalia hums her amusement. “Tell me you love me again.” My sweetheart breathes, putting her forehead back to mine. “Please.”
“I love you.” I press my forehead against hers.
“Again.” She presses hers against mine.
