“I shouldn’t have asked you what I did earlier. My head was a mess, and I was afraid. You’re the only person, apart from my sister, that I feel safe with. I just went with what my body and mind were telling me to do. I shouldn’t have put that pressure on you.”
“It’s okay.” I smile softly, my heart breaking. She didn’t want me to touch her because she wanted me, but because of what her instincts were telling her. This is exactly why I wouldn’t do it.
“No,” she shakes her head. “I put you in a hard spot, and I feel horrible for it.”
Cupping her cheek, I brush a tear away. “Don’t cry.” I hate seeing her cry.
“I’m scared, Emmett. And there's so much going through my head right now. I’m a mess.”
“How are you feeling right now?” She seems pretty lucid. She’s still pretty warm but more coherent than before. My stomach twists in knots. I know we need to talk before her heat amps up again, but I’ve never been so terrified. I’ve always flirted around the idea of me liking her, but never said the words out loud.
‘Like’ doesn't even begin to describe the way I feel about her.
“Better. Still gross, but my head isn’t fuzzy. I know I should probably get more sleep, but I don’t want to be alone.”
“I can lay down with you.” I start to stand with her in my arms, but she stops me.
“Wait.” She licks her lips, and I sit back in the chair. “Before I slip back into that mindset, I want to talk.”
“Okay.” I nod, keeping my voice soft.
“You’re my best friend.” Her voice cracks, more tears welling in her eyes. “The highlight of every day. You make me laugh, feel seen. You make me feel like I’m someone special.”
“Because you are,” I promise her.
She smiles, letting out a watery laugh. “For a long time, I felt guilty about our close relationship.”
“What? Why?” My brows furrow.
“Because you're so young—”
“I’m not that young. I’m almost twenty-five,” I defend.
“Let me finish,” she continues. “What I mean is, you still have so much of your life to live. You want to see the world, explore. I feel like I’m holding you back. I depend on you so much, and I don’t think it’s healthy. I don’t know how to function without you anymore. I honestly don’t know if I’d even want to, and that's not fair to you. You deserve someone who can give you the world, not a broken Omega who’s too terrified to leave the small town she lives in. You deserve someone who can be by your side and walk with you through your journeys in life.”
“Hey, hey, hey,” I stop her rambling, my heart pounding out of control. “First off, never for a second think that you’re not enough, that you can’t give me what I need. I’m not sure if you know this, but Lexi, I’m in love with you. You are my whole world. You think you can’t function without me? Baby, it’s the other way around. You came into my life when I needed it the most. You’re my saving grace. My angel sent to keep me sane. Yes, coming to Widows Peak was a chance for me to start over, but as the years went on, I can tell you that if I didn’t have you, my depression would have dragged me under. You kept me here, you kept my heart beating.” I curl my hand around hers and place it over my pounding heart.
“Seeing the world doesn’t matter to me, there’s no point to any of it if you’re not in my life. If you want to stay here in Widows Peak and never leave, I’ll be right by your side. Because the thrill of life isn’t out there.” I wave towards the mountains. “It’s right here, in my arms. Seeing you smile, hearing your laugh, just simply being in your presence is the greatest thrill I’ll ever know. It’s enough. You are enough.”
“Emmett,” she sobs, pulling my head down to hers, placing her forehead against mine. “I love you. I’m so in love with you that I don’t know what to do with myself.”
Another watery laugh slips free as her words wrap around my heart and soul, igniting the fire in me. “Maybe this is selfish of me to ask, but can you give me a chance to prove to you that I can be everything you need in life?”
She pulls back, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears, and something more. The way she looks at me knocks the air clean out of my lungs. “You already are.”
I shake, my heart thundering, and a sweat breaking out over my body.
She loves me. She wants me. She thinks she doesn’t deserve me? It's me who doesn’t deserve her. But I’m sure as fuck not going to let her go. I’d rather die than not have her in my life.
Then she says the two words that shatter any of my restraint. “Kiss me,” she whispers. “Please.”
“Yeah?” I laugh, smiling so wide I probably look like an idiot.
“Yeah.” She smiles back, nodding her head.
We look into one another's eyes for a moment, and I’ve never felt so much happiness as I do right now.
Cupping the back of her head, I lean down, eyes fluttering closed as I press my lips to hers.
