Page 88 of Fake Crown

She scans my expression, and she grazes my cheek with her thumb. “Anything.”

My heart is hammering in my chest, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never been so nervous in my life. “I love you.”

She frames my face, and she swallows. “That’s big.”

“Yeah, it’s—if you’re not—”

“I love you too. Really, really love you. The scary kind of love.”

“There’s a non-scary kind of love?” I ask. “Should have ordered that one.” But her words have filled me up in a way I never thought possible. Energy courses through me.

“You’re the best I’ve ever had, in every way,” she says.

I ease onto my side beside her on the couch, and I give a fist pump of victory. “Finally, you admit it without me having to tie you down.”

“You didn’t tie me down to get me to admit it before.”

“You’re right. That was just for fun.” I plant a quick kiss on her lips.

She releases a deep sigh, and a tiny frisson of unease snakes down my spine. She doesn’t sound like how I feel.

“Aren’t you worried about what happens when this semester is over?” she asks.

Deathly afraid, but not about whether we’ll work. More about what I’m willing to give up to keep her. “Lots of people do long-distance.”

“It’s at least six years of distance, and would you even want to live in Bellerive? I don’t want to live anywhere else.”

“I know where your head and heart are at. That’s not a problem for me. My de facto citizenship will finally come in handy.” The next part might surprise her since I didn’t discuss it with her earlier. “My coach and the head coach of Bellerive’s national team agreed to work together to train me. I’ll be able to flip back and forth between the two programs pretty seamlessly, or so they assure me.”

“I don’t understand what that means?”

“It means that if you need me, I’ll be able to be there. Or if I miss you, I can spend a week in Bellerive to train and hang out with you. Whatever job you have will have holidays too. Long weekends.”

“You’ve really thought about this.”

“Obsessively,” I say with a chuckle. “I’m not looking forward to it, and I think it’s going to be hard, but if there’s anyone worth trying this with, it’s you. There’s no one else.”

She rolls onto her side and throws one leg over my waist. “I might need a demonstration of what it’ll be like when I haven’t seen you for weeks. For research purposes.”

“Well, if it’s for science.” I slide my hand along her ass and tug her tighter against me.

“Very scientific.”

I feather kisses along her neck, and she arches her back into me. “Does this mean you’re up for giving long-distance a try?” I ask.

“With the way I feel about you,” she says, “I don’t think I’ve got a choice. You aren’t someone I can let slip away.” Her lips twitch. “I’d rather you slipped somewhere else.”

Abandoning the pizza, I lift her into my arms, and I carry her into my bedroom. If she wants a demonstration of the depth of love and desire I have for her, who am I to deny her?

As I lay her down on the bed and follow her down, a surge of happiness races through me. We both understand that what’s between us isn’t fleeting, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.

“Come on, big boy,” Posey says with a wink. “Show me what you’ve got.”

Brent

Since Posey’s negotiation skills are top notch, she managed to convince the interior design company to hold off her orientation and starting date until after summer was over. She and I spent the rest of her final semester at Northern and the entire summer vacation idiot proofing our relationship. As much as it’s possible for any couple to be prepared for long-distance, Posey and I are. We have examined the situation from every angle. Neither of us wants this to fail.

Given that she’s not prone to crying, we established that tears equal getting on a plane right away. So, two weeks after she left Northern to return to Bellerive, I’m stepping off a plane onto the airy tarmac and walking toward customs and immigration. The wind kicks up, and I shield my face from the dirt and dust swirling around me and my fellow departing passengers. My swim bag on my shoulder slips, and I hoist it back into position. In my other hand is my carry-on bag with enough clothes to last me two weeks.