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“I’ve been so scared that Winterberry would be too small for you.”

“It’s not too small. It’s just the right size. It’s got you in it.”

“I fucking love you so much, Foster Crue.”

He says it against my mouth, and then he’s kissing me.

It starts soft. Just the press of his lips to mine, warm from the water, tasting like salt and steam and everything he’s been holding back. My hand comes up to the back of his neck, and I hold him there and kiss him back like I’ve got the rest of my life to do it because for the first time, I think I do.

His hand slides up my chest and settles over my heart. My other hand finds the small of his back, and I pull him closer under the spray until there’s no space between us at all.

He makes a small sound into my mouth that travels through my bloodstream, making me feel like I could float away.

I tilt my head and kiss him deeper. His mouth opens against mine, and I taste him properly, tongue against tongue. It’s as if every kiss we’ve ever had is in this one, and also none of them are because this is the first one where we’ve both said it aloud.

He breaks the kiss for half a second just to breathe. His forehead comes to mine. His eyes are closed.

“Say it again,” I say quietly.

“I love you.”

“Again.”

Griffin’s mouth curves. “Foster Crue. I love you. I have loved you for so long I don’t know when it started. I’m going to love you tomorrow and every day after that, and I don’t care who knows.”

I kiss him again. Harder this time.

His hands go to my hair. My back hits the tile wall as he presses against me from thigh to chest. He smiles into the kiss.

“Foster, you’re going to have to stop kissing me like that, or we won’t make it out of this shower.”

I laugh into his mouth.

“I’m not sorry. You’re the most kissable man I’ve ever met.”

He kisses me one more time. This time it’s slower before he pulls back just enough to look at me, his hand still flat against my heart.

“I’m sorry I didn’t let you tell me about New York,” Finn says. “Taylen told me about it today.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t press it more. I wanted to, but I also didn’t want to distract you from all the pressure you were under with the festival. I guess I was scared to tell you because if you didn’t feel the same way, that would be the end of everything.”

“Bastian said we’re idiots.”

I do a double-take. “He knows?”

“I sort of had a breakdown when I found out you were gone⁠—”

“I was never gone, Finn. You have to believe me. I was walking on the farm and lost track of time, then my phone was dead. When I got back to the house and saw what time it was, I came straight over here.”

“We’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

When we pull apart, he reaches around me and shuts off the water.

We dry off in an easy silence. He rubs my hair with a small towel while I stand there and let him. I catch his wrist at some point, press a kiss to the inside of it, and he laughs.

When he declares we’re both dry enough, he takes my hand and pulls me into the bedroom, climbing into his bed and holding the covers up for me.

I climb in after him and press against him as close as I can get. He doesn’t complain when I put my arm across his ribs or my thigh over his.