“Yeah, it is.” I took a step closer. “But that’s not why I’m here.”
He uncrossed his arms, his posture shifting. Softening. “No?”
“No.” Another step. My heart was hammering now, but not from fear. This was much bigger. It felt like standing on the edge of a cliff. No windmilling this time. Just calm, knowing the fall would be worth it. “I came to tell you something.”
He waited. Patient. Steady. Perfect.
“I spent my whole life waiting for the other shoe to drop.” My voice shook. I didn’t try to steady it. “I thought I was too broken. Too scarred. I thought underneath the bright clothes and the smiles, there was just... mess. But you saw the mess. You held it. You didn’t run.”
“Emily.” His voice was shaky.
“I’m not done.” I held up a hand, needing to get this out before I lost my nerve. “You told me you loved me. Twice. Andboth times I was too scared to say it back because I couldn’t believe it was real.” My gaze locked on his, letting him see everything I’d been hiding. “But I believe it now. I believe you.”
He exhaled a shaky breath, watching me closely.
“I love you, Cam.” The words felt like coming home. “I love you and I’m sorry it took me so long to figure out how to say it.”
The tension drained out of him all at once. His shoulders dropped. The tight line of his jaw relaxed. He looked like a man who had been holding his breath underwater for months and just broke the surface.
He came down the porch steps slowly, closing the distance between us until we were standing toe to toe. He cupped my face, his thumb brushing across my cheekbone.
“You know what would have made this easier?” His voice was low, teasing.
“What?”
“If someone had just written it in the sky for you.”
I laughed, the sound watery around the edges. “Oh yeah, that definitely would have helped.”
His thumb traced the line of my jaw. His smile turned mischievous. “Look up.”
I frowned, confused, but tilted my head back anyway.
And then I stopped breathing.
High above us, white trails of smoke curled against the endless blue, forming letters that stretched across the sky like a declaration written in clouds.
CAM LOVES EMILY
“Oh my god. Cam.” The words came out strangled. “You didn’t.”
“I did.” His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him.
The tears came then, hot and fast, and I didn’t even try to stop them. I just stood there in the circle of his arms, staringup at my name written in the sky, feeling something inside me finally,finallysettle into place.
“I love you,” I whispered again, because now that I’d said it once, I couldn’t seem to stop.
“I love you too.” He pressed his forehead to mine.
I smiled through my tears and pulled him down to kiss me.
His lips met mine, soft at first, then deeper. His hands splayed across my back, holding me close. I melted into him, letting myself feel all of it. The joy, the relief, the overwhelming rightness of being exactly where I belonged.
Until,
“AUDREY, COME QUICK!” Alice’s voice shrieked from somewhere inside the house. “DADDY’S KISSING EMILY!”
We broke apart, both of us turning toward the house. Through the screen door, I could see Alice’s little face pressed against the mesh, her eyes wide.
