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“Okay, then.”

And for the first time since I’ve known him, Milo looks like he hasn’t got a fucking clue what to do next.

He starts to lie back on the blanket, but I don’t give him the chance.

Instead, I practically launch myself at him, knocking him flat on his back as I climb into his lap and cradle his face between my hands.

His eyes widen in surprise.

“Max?”

“I love you too, you big idiot.” The words tumble out of me before I can second-guess them.

God, it feels good to finally say them.

“I love you so much, Milo. So much, it scares me sometimes.”

For a heartbeat, he just stares at me. Then the biggest, most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen spreads across his face.

“Thank fucking God.”

I burst out laughing as he wraps his arms around my waist and rolls us over, pinning me beneath him.

“Jesus Christ, Max.” He laughs, pressing his forehead to mine. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to tell you that.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“In my head, I’ve told you a hundred times. But whenever I tried to say it out loud, I convinced myself you’d think I was moving too fast. Or worse, that I’d scare you away.” His smile softens. “But I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. Not when I’ve loved you for so fucking long.”

My heart feels like it might burst at any moment.

“You have?”

“Max.” He shakes his head, looking at me like I’m the most ridiculous girl he’s ever met. “I’ve loved you forever. I’ll love you forever. There’s no one else for me but you. You’re my girl.”

Every fear I’ve been carrying around all afternoon seems a little less terrifying.

Brown. Atlanta. The hundreds of miles that will eventually separate us.

None of it matters right now.

Not when Milo is looking at me like I’m his entire world.

“Kiss me,” I whisper.

He doesn’t need to be told twice.

His lips find mine, soft and warm. I immediately slide my fingers into his hair, pulling him closer. He deepens the kiss, and I lose myself in the familiar taste of him, in the gentle weight of his body against mine and the way his hand nestles my cheek as though I’m something precious.

But today, kissing him doesn’t feel like enough. Not when my heart is so full of him I can barely stand it.

I press my palms against his chest and gently push him onto his back before swinging one leg over his hips and settling into his lap.

Milo looks up at me, his lips swollen from our kiss, his gaze darkening as he rests his hands on my hips.

“Max?”

“I’m ready,” I tell him.