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“Seriously, you have to stop staring at me like that,” I said quietly. Those were the first words I’d ever said to him, a long time ago. My voice shook as I continued. “Or else I’m going to start thinking there’s something wrong with the way I look.”
His puzzled expression gave way to a chuckle. I breathed then, managing a smile.
“You look perfect,” he said softly.
“So do you.”
He took another step then, taking a deep breath, he took my hand in his and held it to his chest.
“I was on my way over to your apartment,” I told him. “I didn’t expect you to come here.” I paused. “I meant what I said at the interview.”
“I haven’t seen it.” He raised a brow. “What did you say?”
I frowned. “I thought you must have seen it. I thought…isn’t that why you’re here?”
“No. My mother told me you were going to be here. I couldn’t let you go without letting you know I won’t be able to bear it if you leave again.”
I closed my eyes. “I’m not leaving. It killed me the first time. Another time would be too much.”
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “For everything.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m sorry. God, I wish…I wish we could start all over.”
“No.” Braden lifted one hand to stroke my hair. “We’re never going back, starting now.”
I breathed. “Starting now.”
He kissed me, a soft, gentle touch of his lips on mine. “What did you say at this interview?”
I swallowed and held his eyes. “That you mean more to me than anybody else in the world, and that the biggest mistake I ever made was letting you go.”
“Mine too.” He cupped my face. “You don’t have to give anything up because of me, Allie. I’m willing to take anything you can give.”
“I’m not giving up anything I don’t want to,” I assured him. “I’m still going to work, just not as much as before, and not as frequently.”
He kissed me again. “I have something for you.” He brought a familiar box out of his pocket: my rings.
“You left these at the house.”
I closed my eyes. “I was…I thought there was no hope.”
“I know.” His voice was quiet. “But there is, because I love you, more than anything.”
“Me too,” I whispered. “More than anything.”
The New Year’s clock started to tick, and from inside the hall, people were counting. Braden smiled at me, and I smiled back, happier than I’d been in a long time, maybe forever. He slipped the rings onto my fingers and I closed my eyes, lifting my face to his.
Fireworks split the sky. From somewhere close, someone was calling on people to kiss. I could barely hear the words, because Braden was already kissing me, and there was no better feeling in the world.
The End
