Page 225 of Dream On, Liar

“And I’m pretty sure my father manipulated me into confessing it.”

I laughed. A startled, disbelieving sound that escaped before I could stop it. “You're kidding.”

“No.” She wiped at her cheeks again. “He sat me down and somehow managed to make me admit everything. Did you really tell him you're in love with me?”

A smile broke across my face. “I sure as hell did.”

She laughed through another tear.

“You're crazy.”

“Yeah.” I lifted a hand, brushing the wet hair back from her face. “About you.”

Her eyes softened.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

The rain came down harder.

The stadium lights blurred behind her, turning the whole world into silver and gold.

I touched her cheek.

She leaned into my palm.

And that tiny movement nearly undid me.

After everything.

After every argument.

Every lie.

Every reason we'd told ourselves this couldn't happen.

She was standing in front of me, looking at me like I was something she had finally stopped being afraid to want.

“I’ve loved you for longer than I knew what to call it,” she whispered.

My chest tightened. “I have too, you know?”

“The tequila may have helped.”

I laughed. “The tequila trivia absolutely helped.”

She smiled. “You always knew what I wanted, huh?”

Then she stepped closer. Close enough that our foreheads touched. “I did.”

“I’m sorry I made you feel like you didn’t mean much to me. You do, I was just…”

“I know.”

“And, I’m sorry for not choosing you when you gave me a chance.”

“You were scared.” I replied, brushing the tear mixed rain from her cheek. “You didn’t want to lose your father’s respect at the expense of your heart.”

“Yeah, but you were ready to give up the sport you loved so much.”