It isn't even a question to me whether I want to be with her.
She nods, eyes closing softly, and I take this opportunity to step toward her.
“What if I told you I didn’t want this anymore. Would you be okay with that?”
Her breathing rate picks up, obvious discomfort rippling through her, but she nods, nonetheless.
I stride forward, stopping less than a foot away from her. Vivienne’s neck cranes to look up at me, while every bone in my body resists the temptation to pull her close, flush her against my body until we become one.
“And what if I told you I wanted to do this right? Date you properly, and get to know every part of you. Does that also work well with you?”
Her eyes water, and from the slight smile of relief that crosses her lips, I know which option she prefers. Still, she'll need to use her words.
“There’s only one right answer, Vivienne. Which one is it going to be?” I ask, looking her straight in the eyes.
This time, she’s the one stepping closer, rising onto her tiptoes, and pressing her lips against mine.
It’s a peck at first, riddled with uncertainty, but soon enough, my hands rise out of my pockets to cradle her face, and that’s when she melts into my touch. Vivienne smiles against my lips, and a deep satisfaction soars through me.
I pull back enough to tell her the words I’ve said before, but not under the right circumstances. “I love you.”
Big brown eyes look into mine with a softness that nearly undoes me. “I love you too.”
Certain that my feelings aren’t one-sided, I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her taut against my body. Vivienne gasps in surprise, giggling in delight once again when I kiss her with vigor.
“Does that mean you’ll be my girlfriend?”
She cackles against my lips, shoulders shaking. “I guess we’re technically taking a step back, aren’t we?”
The lightheartedness that fills her tone dissipates as her fingers dig into my biceps, and the panic rises within her. “Nate,” she says, worried.
“Yeah?” I ask, landing another peck on her lips.
“Don’t move.”
My brows furrow. “What do you mean, don’t move?”
I try to step away when a loud gasp startles me. It all happens in slow motion from there—Vivienne’s heels slipping on the ice, her hand flailing back from the shock, me tumbling right along with her.
My back hits the ground in a loud thud, and I burst out in laughter as her body lands on mine. Though startled for a few seconds, she eventually melts into a soft laugh of her own.
“How could this have happened twice?” She can barely contain herself, the skin wrinkling around the corners of her eyes.
I can’t help but admire the sight.
This is what I hope to fall asleep and wake up to for the rest of my life. No matter the age, the problems, or the wrinkles. The tiredness that would come with finishing her PhD, work, or even motherhood. I want it all, and I want to do with her.
“What is it?” Vivienne asks softly, looking at me inquisitively.
I shake my head with a smile. “Nothing.”
Her mouth parts in surprise, stunned that I won’t tell her. “What do you mean? Nothing!”
My grin spreads across my face. “Exactly what it sounds like.”
Vivienne rolls her eyes playfully, letting go despite the part of her that really wants to know. “You know what we didn’t dolast time we were here?” she asks, a glint going off her eyes as she sorts through the pocket of her coat.
“What didn’t we do?” I ask.
