AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, I said that what I had togivewasn't enough for you. I’ve played the conversation over and over, wishing I hadn’t fucked things up.”
“You said you loved somebody else and couldn't have a relationship. How has that changed?”
“Avery,” he says firmly. “I missed you. A lot. I stopped thinking about Hannah because of you in the last days we were together, and the moment you walked out of the door, I was lost again. I'm an idiot. I told you that the night we met.”
“Hannah has your heart.”
Bryn takes my face in both hands so I have to look at him. “Only if I let her and I won't. I let go of her. You were right. When I met the right person, I could take my heart back and share it with her.”
I shake my head and look away.
“I’ve hardly thought about Hannah at all, but thinking about you makes my chest ache, Avery, because I left my heart with you.”
Bryn’s describing the ache I’ve had myself, the nights lying in bed wishing I’d spent at least one night asleep in his arms, but knowing the pain would be worse if I had. My heart beats hard and fast, surging the crazy, hidden love I have for Bryn through. His familiar scent, the touch I’ve ached for, the impossible dream that the man who made this happen could feel the same way overwhelms me as I stare back, grasping for a response.
“Do you believe me?” he asks, brushing his thumb against my lip.
We stand, the way we have many times before, but with the invisible line erased. Honesty. Communication. The two things missing from the Bryn and Avery we were before.
“If you don't understand what made you hang onto Hannah for so long, you might go back,” I say hoarsely, wanting him to replace his thumb with his lips.
“When I met you, I was hurting and lonely. You were different to everybody else around. You helped me forget about her.”
“Obviously not.”
“No, listen. The issue is I missed the part where it wasmorethan being around you that helped me forget. You’re the girl I should be with. I finally woke up to the fact that I’d fallen in love with somebody who deserved my heart, and who won’t play with it.”
“Stop,” I say and move back. “Don’t drop this on me and spoil the evening. I don't think you knew what you wanted and still don't.”
“You.” He reaches out to touch my cheek.
“And as long as you carry her, you can't give yourself to me.”
“I'm already yours,” he whispers. “You're mine. I know you are. Together we make an amazing us.”
“And if Hannah—”
“No more Hannah. I had too much faith in fate and tried to rewind instead of going forward.” He pulls me closer. “I have the answer to your question, the one I should’ve given you weeks ago. If she walked into my life tomorrow, and told me she wanted me, I wouldn't give her a second look.”
In the core of my heart, I want to believe him but I'm unsure I can.
He catches my doubt. “I mean what I’m saying, Avery. I've spent the weeks apart with you in my head and heart, and there isn’t room for anybody else in there.” Bryn winds his arm around my waist, almost encircling it completely as he brushes stray hair from my face. “When you were gone from my life, I noticed that the happiness left with you. I’ve spent a lot of my life focused on making other people’s worlds right and forgot about myself. You make my world a beautiful place, and that’s the one I want to live in.”
His words dizzy me, heartfelt honesty I’ve never heard before, from anybody. “I don’t know what to say, Bryn. I… I just don’t have words.”
His brow creases. “You didn't expect this when you agreed to come here?”
“I expected to talk about us, but I never thought you’d say anything like this.”
“I don't know how many chances I have, so I'm snatching this one with the hope you still feel enough for me and I can try again. I won’t fuck things up this time.”
I give him a desperate look, indicating he’s taken away my ability to respond coherently.
Bryn moves his mouth closer, his warm breath on my cool face, and I ache to feel his lips again. “Would a kiss help?” he asks, lips brushing mine as he speaks. “I've waited weeks to kiss you again, fantasised about your lips on mine.” He lowers his voice. “Amongst other things.”
My scalp tingles as he pushes his fingers into my hair. I'm torn, but the moment he opened up to me, this was inevitable.
“Who says I want you to kiss me?” I whisper.
