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“God, you drive me crazy!”
He stopped, turned around, looked at me for a long moment before his lips turned up in that gorgeous half-smile I adored so much. “You drive me crazy, too,” he said back to me.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I took a few hesitant steps toward him. I was terrified that I’d done too much damage, hurt him too much. “Maybe…we could drive each other crazy…for the next fifty years. If you want?”
His gaze softened. “That sounds pretty good to me.”
My heart thudding painfully, I took another couple of steps. “Are you sure? Because, you know, I’m… a lot.” Still so uncertain.
Closing the distance between us, he cupped my face in his hands, his eyes shining with all the love he felt for me. “Yes. You’re everything.” The sincerity in his words melted away all my fears.
I let out a sob, closing my eyes and wrapping my fingers around his wrists. He kissed me on the forehead, so gently and sweetly that I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. “I’m so, so sorry. I was just so scared, and I didn’t believe it, and I couldn’t let go of what happened before, but then I realized that I didn’t want it to hold me hostage anymore. And I love you. So much.” I was babbling. The feelings that had been held back for so long couldn’t be contained anymore, and the dam burst, and they spilled out of me in a rush.
Gabe dragged me against him, wrapping his arms around me. “I love you, too, Allegra.”
Slipping my arms around his waist, I pressed my face against his chest and just breathed him in. Listened to the steady beat of his heart. Let out a sigh because that heart was mine now. Forever. Finally, I leaned back a little, so I could smile up at him. “I love you.”
“I love you.” He lowered his head, brushing his lips lightly across mine. It was all so perfect and wonderful and lovely—
“Heyyy, what’s going on?”
I went to pull away, but Gabe kept his arm around my shoulders, trapping me against his side. “You ever heard the expression kiss and make up? Allegra and I are doing that. Is that okay?”
Jesse grinned. “Yeah. I like it.”
“Excellent.”
My heart almost bursting, I smiled at Jesse, pulling him in to press a kiss to his head. Because it felt like the most natural thing in the world, without thinking I said, “Man, I love you, kiddo.”
I felt him stiffen and immediately regretted my impulsive words. The last thing I wanted was to freak him out. But then he relaxed, saying, “I guess I love you too. Maybe.”
Chuckling, I ruffled his hair. “I’ll take it.” It was a pretty big deal for an eight-year-old and I certainly didn’t want to push him. We turned and headed toward the parking lot, my arm around Gabe’s waist, his draped over my shoulders.
“What flavor milkshake you gonna have?”
“Caramel, of course. You?”
“Think I’m gonna try banana this time.”
“Good choice.” I caught sight of Zara and Lucy, watching us walking toward them. Their smiles were a mile wide.
“I like this. A lot.”
“Me too, Luce.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
I let go of Gabe just long enough to hug Zara. “Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome. Everyone’s heading to the diner, so we’ll see you there?”
“Okay.”
We climbed into Gabe’s truck and he backed out of the parking space, taking my hand and holding it in his lap. Like he couldn’t stand to not be touching me. It made me smile because I felt exactly the same way. How amazing that life could turn on a dime. Half an hour ago I’d been nursing a devastated heart, and look at me now. “I love you,” I said softly, knowing Jesse was in the back.
Gabe lifted my hand to his lips, and the look he gave me made my heart glow. “I love you, too.”
Epilogue
