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“I’m empty sometimes, too.”
“That’s okay.” I reach a hand out and glide it over his stubble. “We can fill each other up, because that’s what love is, Nate. There are bad days and good days. Yes, the bad days can be hard and have a lot of empty bursts, red markers, and negative feelings. But that’s okay, too, because we’re there to catch each other when we fall. We’re there to turn the bad days into good ones because we can. I don’t know about the rest of the world, but you and I can totally do it. Do you know why?”
He grabs my hand that’s on his cheek and strokes his thumb on the back of it, eliciting tiny shudders from me. “Why?”
“Because we’re a team, Nate. Just you and I.”
“You’re a fucking gem, did you know that?”
“No, so you’ll have to tell me that every day.”
“I fucking will. Remember when you were trying to find me a hobby?”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t have to look anymore. I already found it.”
“Really? What is it? Oh, is it board games?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“You.”
“M-me?”
“Why do you think I kept agreeing to do all of the things you planned?”
“I thought you were only placating me.”
“I’m not that unselfish. I did it to spend more time with you, and the longer I did, the deeper you drew me into you.”
“I’m glad I was persistent.”
“I’m glad, too.” He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses the palm so delicately, I melt. “I know we agreed to divorce when you’re twenty-one, but I can’t bear the thought of being away from you. The last couple of weeks have been enough torture for a lifetime.”
“I can’t stay away from you either, even if Dad is against it.”
“So you’ll stay my wife?”
I bite my lower lip. “People will talk.”
“Fuck them.”
“Does that mean I get to call you my husband in public?”
“Always.” He breathes heavily, the shirt of his suit stretching with the depth of his inhales and exhales. “I love you, baby girl. I’m in love with your colorfulness as much as your emptiness.”
“I love you, too, Nate. I think I’ve been in love with you for years.”
“I think I’ve loved you ever since you kissed me, and I’ll show you how much I love you for the rest of our lives.”
“Oh, Nate.” I get on my tiptoes and just like that day two years ago when he fell in love with me, my lips find his.
Epilogue 1 - Nathaniel
Three years later
