I watch his brow hit his hairline, his mouth hanging open at what I’ve just said.
My nerves are firing off like cannonballs. He’s probably freaked out. It’s way, way too soon for me to say this to him. We’ve just barely started our relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend. This must feel like a bomb being dropped on him with everything else he’s going through right now.
“You don’t have to say it back,” I say quickly. “I just wanted to tell you how I feel because… well, it’s how I feel.”
I let out a flustered laugh. A second later, I’m serious again. I rest my hands on his shoulders and take a breath.
“For so long, I held in how I’ve felt about you, and I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to say how I feel. I don’t ever want you to doubt me or whether I’ll be by your side. I’ll always stand with you, Blake. Because I love you.”
His mouth crashes against mine. He grabs my face, kissing me harder and sweeter than he ever has.
When we break apart, I’m dizzy and panting.
“I love you too,” he says.
My breath catches. “You do?”
His handsome face breaks into a grin. “Of course I do. Briar, I’ve been in love with you since we were in high school.”
Emotion bubbles up in my chest, making everything feel tight and warm. Happy tears prick at my eyes.
“You have?”
His ocean-blue eyes glitter as he nods. “Yes. Briar, I’ve always wanted you. Always.” His thick, stubbled throat bobs as he swallows. “For the longest time, I thought we’d just be friends. And that was good enough for me because I still got to be in your life. But then, you transferred to Hollis, and everything started changing between us. In the best way.”
I think about the moment when I told Blake I was a virgin, and how embarrassed I was. How, in the moment, I wished I could take it back. But I’m so glad I didn’t. Because that’s what kicked everything off for us.
Yeah, it was awkward, but it was honest. I was honest about my inexperience in the bedroom and how I wanted him to be the one to teach me. He was honest about his feelings for me.
I run my fingers through his hair. He makes that soft, low, moaning sound that always makes me shiver.
“I can’t believe this whole time we both loved each other,” I say.
“It’s perfect.” He kisses me. “Together, we’re perfect.”
Tingles race across my entire body. He’s right. We really are perfect. The way we make each other laugh. The way we can tell each other everything. How comfortable we feel around each other.
It’s been this way since we were clueless teenagers who had no idea what we were doing in life.
But now, we’re older. Life is harder. But it’s better with Blake. Everything is better with Blake.
He kisses me again. “Youare perfect, Briar.”
I gaze down at my best friend. My boyfriend.My heart.
I cup my hands over his stubbled cheeks. “I’msonot perfect.”
“To me, you are.”
His words tug at my heart.
“You’re kind and smart and thoughtful and loyal.” He brushes a chunk of hair behind my ear. “And one hell of a beer pong partner.”
I burst out laughing. He smiles and winks at me.
“You’re my dream guy, Blake. Every other guy I dated paled in comparison to you. You were always kinder, funnier, more thoughtful. I never felt like I could be totally comfortable with them. And then every time I was with you, it felt like home.”
Warmth flashes in his eyes.
