“How long have you been in love with me?”
He chokes, his arm reflexively squeezing my waist. “Excuse me?”
“I’m just curious,” I say innocently. “Ballpark estimate?”
“You cannot just ask that like it’s a normal question,” he says, staring at me. “Why are you like this?”
“That’s not an answer,” I reply, tilting my head in a way I know he’s weak for.
He groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Three years.”
I blink. “Three years?”
“Give or take,” he mutters.
“That’s—” I laugh. “That’s when we met.”
“Yes, Patrick,” he says, sighing heavily. “I’m aware.”
“So you’ve just been in love with me this whole time? Even when I tried to make salami in our dorm room?”
“Please stop reminding me about that. I still get nightmares.”
I grin, reaching up and tucking a loose strand of his hair behind his ear, exposing the pink tinge on his cheek.
“That’s kind of amazing,” I say, still grinning.
“You’re insufferable,” he complains, but doesn’t push me away.
“You know,” I say thoughtfully, “I think I might’ve been in love with you the whole time too.”
He freezes. “What?”
I shrug. “I just didn’t know what to call it,” I say, squeezing his shoulder. “But, like, there’s no one else I ever trusted as much, or wanted to follow around all the time, or play soccer with, like you.”
His expression softens, just a little.
“You’re unbelievable,” he says, punching my bicep.
“I know,” I say, and then I swoop down to kiss him.
Because I can, because he’s here, and because it feels like the most obvious thing in the world.
“I KNEW IT!”
We break apart and turn.
Elias Papadakis, of all people, is standing there, hands over his mouth, and eyes shining like he just witnessed a miracle.
“Iknewyou two were soulmates!” he yells, before glaring directly at Colten and saying, “I told you the spell worked! I can’t believe you stole my books when you were actually in love with him this whole time!”
“You let me borrow those books,” Colten replies with his own glare.
“Under extreme duress!” Elias counters before running off. He yells something about shoving it in his cousin’s face and needing to charge for his services.
I stare after him. “Should we stop him?” I ask.
“No,” Colten says immediately. “You’re not allowed anywhere near him or his ‘magic’ again.”
