My heart pounded in my chest, and my breathing felt shallow but strong. I lifted my hand to knock, but then I froze—something told me to grab the doorknob instead. So, I did.
The door swung open, and my eyes found him as if they already knew where he’d be—sitting on the ledge of the living room window, looking out at the town below him.
His head snapped toward the door, eyes narrowing. Then his stern and broody gaze softened as he recognized me. My stomach flipped in excitement.
He stood slowly, cautiously. Unsure which direction this was headed, but his eyes were full of hope for where it could lead.
“What are you doing here?”
I released a breath. “I’m tired of running.”
“You’re tired?” His brows shot up adorably, and I could almost smile in my sea of nerves.
“Yes,” I breathed.
He took a slow step toward me.
“Done pretending?”
“Yes.” He took another step, the corner of his mouth beginning to lift.
“You’re sure of it? Positive? Not going to change your mind in an hour and then run off somewhere—”
“E,” I sighed. “I just took a flight from Texas to California, to Jersey just to be here, okay? I’m serious. I know what I want. I love you. I want to be with you.”
His playful smile fell, and he went silent, his hands moving to his pockets. He pulled his bottom lip in and watched me as I continued.
“I’ve always loved you. I just… I couldn’t get my head wrapped around the idea that maybe this could actually work and wouldn’t go up in flames like everything else in my life. That maybe… maybe this was what it was supposed to be all along.
“I spent my whole life learning not to feel so I wouldn’t end up all screwed up from the house I was raised in. I didn’t realize I was already screwed up, and I was taking you down with me. And everyone else, for that matter. But you…” I swallowed. “You’re the only real thing I’ve ever known, E. You’re the only person I’ve ever been me around—just me. You’re the only real love I’ve ever had. I knew it… for a long time, but… once I realized it, I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you one day, so I just… buried it.”
“You’d never lose me.”
“I almost did. And even when I got you back, I still wasn’t brave enough to be with you. But I’m brave enough now. I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
My bag fell to the floor as I took slow steps toward him, pouring my heart out to the man who always had it.
“I loved you when you took me for a drive in your first car. I loved you when you walked me home just so you could have ‘space.’ I loved you when you made me take the long way so I wouldn’t get caught. I loved you when you bought me the CD I didn’t have money for.”
I was right in front of him now.
“I loved you when you asked me to fall in love with you. I never answered that text… because I already was.”
He looked down the bridge of his nose at me, smirking with his cocky, crooked grin as he stood there, firm and relaxed, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Damn, baby. You’re obsessed,” he said with a bite of his lip.
“Oh my—” I rolled my eyes. “You know what, never mind.” I turned and took a step toward the door, feigning annoyance at his teasing.
In one swift movement, he grabbed me by the elbow and spun me around, pulling me into him until his lips landed on mine. My skin tingled with electric waves, my whole being coming alive in the fireworks of our kiss. The loud crack and bright eruption our love deserved—booming symphonies and all.
His hand framed my jaw as he kissed me with everything. Every hope he dared to dream. Every dream he dared to share. Every moment of our once-lost future was there on his lips. He kissed me with every ounce of heartbreak we had borne, and those he carried on his own. He kissed me with all of it—all the love and all the despair. And I soaked it all in as I greedily kissed him back.
When he finally pulled away, just far enough to look at me, his voice broke.
“I thought I lost you.”
“You didn’t,” I whispered, breathless. “You never could.”
