I look down at him, at the tears shining in his eyes, and a laugh almost escapes me.
The stupid spell didn't make me fall in love with him.
I’m an idiot who’s been in love with him for years.
“It isn’t the spell,” I tell him, shaking my head. "I thought I was straight, which is pretty embarrassing in hindsight, because I can barely go five minutes without staring at you."
His eyes widen, cheeks turning bright red.
“And all those girls I dated? The ones who did one tiny annoying thing and suddenly I couldn’t stop noticing it?” I swallow, looking at him. “You do annoying things all the time.”
Colten blinks.
“You leave your socks on the floor. You make me watch boring documentaries where nothing explodes. You call me farmboy even though youknowI grew up on a ranch—”
“I don’t make you watch those documentaries,” Colten interrupts, looking distinctly unimpressed. “You could leave at any time, Patrick.”
“Anyway,” I say loudly, because that isnotthe point, “when I actually think about what I want, not what I thought I was supposed to want…”
I trail off, overwhelmed by how obvious it suddenly seems. How did I not see it before?
“None of that stuff matters,” I say, softer now. “Not when it’s you.”
The words are simple, but I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.
"It's always been you. I just..." I laugh weakly. "I didn't think that was an option."
His breath catches, and a tear slips down his cheek.
I instantly panic. “Wait, no, don’t cry again—”
“I love you too,” he says, the words rushing out in one breath. “Even with all the annoying and stupid things thatyoudo.”
“Really?” I ask, my heart beating so hard I’m half convinced it’s about to leap out of my chest. “No take-backs, right? You really love me?”
He rolls his eyes, even as more tears fall. “Yes, Patrick, I really love you, no take-backs.”
“Good,” I say, sighing in relief.
He huffs before grabbing the front of my shirt and pulling me down into a kiss.
It’s not rushed, or desperate, or mean, or even hot.
It’s just…warm.
It’s soft, certain, and everything is settling into place all at once.
I relax into it, all the tension I didn’t even realize I was carrying just melting away.
When we pull back, he fixes me with a look.
“You are not allowed to get bored of me,” he says.
“I won’t,” I easily promise.
“If you do,” he continues, relentless, “you tell me. We’ll fix it, together, no matter what. You can’t just break up with me, I’m not allowing it.”
“Does that mean…” I start, heart now in my throat, “That we’re boyfriends?” My voice squeaks a little.
