“Exotic?” I teased.
“Yeah. Every girl in class wanted a date with the elusive Niko Demir.”
Tightening my grip, I answered, “There was onlyonegirl I wanted.”
“Really?” she breathed out.
I nodded and sighed. I didn’t want her to feel bad again about what happened, but I wanted her to understand my heart.
“If I had ever gotten the chance to ask you out and you said yes, I’d have been yours. Always.”
She studied my face, her eyes wide, her breathing increased.
I watched in awe as the firelight danced in her eyes. “I’m in love with you, Leyla. I can’t hold back from saying it anymore. My heart feels like it’s reaching for yours. I want you to have it. If you want it, my heart is yours.”
Leyla blinked, taking in my whole face. “I’ve fallen in love with you, too. I don’t want to wait or hold back anymore, either. You said God has led our paths to cross again. Then let’s walk that path together.”
She held my hands, and her breath skated over my lips as we breathed each other in, caught up in this sacred moment. We locked eyes as unspoken words and confirmation passed between us. This was Leyla. Always giving me space to speak.
With my heart in my throat, I took another leap of faith as the stars twinkled overhead, moonlight peeking through the clouds, our heartbeats pulsing as one. I leaned forward, our foreheads touching. Without hesitation, I knew what I wanted to say.
Pulling back to look into her eyes, I said, “You have made space for me to be myself. The way you’ve seen and accepted me, in all my ways, has brought healing to my soul. You make theworld quieter for me, and I had no idea how loud it was until you.”
“Niko,” she whispered. I loved when she did that.
“Leyla, for so long, I tried to make myself easier to understand. Pushed myself to be something I wasn’t. But even from the time we first met, you didn’t try to change me. You are the first woman to actually learn my language.”
She shook her head, tears forming. “I love all the things that make you the man you are. There’s nothing about you that I’d change.”
“I know we started as friends and only had a few months together all those years ago, but that was all it took for me. I knew then that you were more than just someone special in my life. You were the one my soul had longed for. When I lost you in that crowd at the park, when I said I don’t want to lose you again, I meant ever. I never want to lose you again.”
“I don’t want that either. I want us to be together. I don’t want to wonder anymore about ‘what if’,” she said, tears falling.
I wiped her cheeks with my thumb and whispered, “Then marry me, Leyla. Please, say you’ll be mine.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Leyla
My heart racedas I watched the shadows from the firelight dancing around Niko’s face. His eyes were wide and expectant as my mind tried to process his words.
“I know this is quick, but you’re my soulmate, Leyla. I feel it every time I see you, touch you, hold you. Every conversation solidifies that we were meant to be together. You don’t have to answer right now. And we can wait as long as you need. I just couldn’t…”
Taking his face in my hands once more and scratching my fingers through his short beard, his eyes closed as he leaned closer.
“Niko, yes. Yes, in every lifetime, yes,” I whispered.
His eyes opened, glassy from unshed tears. “Yes?”
I nodded. “Yes. I’m yours.”
He pulled me to him, our kiss sweet from the marshmallows, and salty as we shared each other’s tears. He pulled away, eyes suddenly frantic.
“I’ve prayed about this so many times. Dreamed about it.Rehearsedit a hundred times. I knew I’d ask you. It was just a matter of time. I think I surprised myself tonight. But I don’t want you to think it was spontaneous and not thought through. I’ve been wanting this, wanting you for a long time. I don’t have the ring yet, although I’ve looked, but I will buy it tomorrow,” he said, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
“I love that you’ve been rehearsing it,andI love that you were spontaneous. You keep surprising me.Sounlike you,” I teased, giving him a shy smile.
He huffed out a laugh and nodded. “I keep telling you. You’ve changed me. Mike says I’ve become a sappy romantic.”
