Page 281 of When a Soul Cries

Her laugh hit me right in the chest, but mine slowly faded as I watched her. Everything I’d been trying to explain all night suddenly felt too complicated when the truth was actually simple as hell.

“I love you.”

Her laughter stopped.

I didn’t look away.

Sol’s lips parted slightly while she searched my face like she needed to make sure she had heard me correctly.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I said it.”

“Rome…”

“I know it’s fast.”

She stared at me.

“I don’t care.”

Her eyes filled again.

“I know what it feels like when I don’t see you. I know what my house felt like after you left. I know I keep finding excuses to come to Eastview every damn night. And when I picture what I want five years from now, you’re there. Halo’s there too. Maybe another little somebody getting on my nerves too.”

A watery laugh escaped her.

“Boy…”

“I’m serious.”

“I know.”

“I ain’t asking you to tell me you love me tonight.”

That mattered.

I needed her to understand that.

“I ain’t asking you to move back into my house Monday. I’m telling you where I’m at.”

I held out my hand.

After a second, she placed hers in it.

“I want you to be my woman.”

Sol looked down at our joined hands before slowly lifting her eyes back to mine. “And if I say I’m scared?”

“Be scared.”

Her eyebrows rose slightly.

I squeezed her fingers. “Just don’t lie to yourself because you’re scared.”

She stared at me for a long moment.

Then her fingers tightened around mine.

“I want you too.”