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An hour later,my belly is full, and the cloud that was hovering over my head earlier is now a blaring ray of sunlight.
I’m not sure how true the old saying is about a way into a man’s heart being through his stomach, but a way into a woman’s heart is definitely a giant plate of extra cheesy spaghetti.
I yawn.
“Let me finish up here, and I can get the fire going for us in the living room. It’s been a long day.”
“Why do you insist on doing those dishes now? I can take care of them later,” I say over the kitchen island with another big yawn.
“I like taking care of us.” Matthew places the last plate in the dishwasher and wipes his hands on a towel. “Cooking for you, then cleaning up after you. Few things make me feel manlier than that.”
The words turn the building tension in the base of my spine into a full-on puddle.
For a moment, I dream up all sorts of things I can do to make him feel all man. But Bear croaks at my feet.
I give in to the comfort of knowing my man and my new cat are here, making me feel all woman.
Home sweet home.
“I still can’t believe you’re mine,” I say.
“Get used to it, because I love you.”
My breath stops. My knees go weak.
Did he just say that?
“What?”
“Oh man, that’s been sitting on the tip of my tongue for weeks.” He shuts off the faucet and faces me.Weeks?“Dammit, this isn’t how I meant to tell you.”
“I love you too,” I say, pushing out my stool and rushing toward him.
Matthew takes my hands in his. “Molly, I don’t want you to feel any pressure to say it back. I know with everything going—”
“No, I do, Matthew,” I interrupt him, squeezing his fingers tighter. “I love you. I’ve…I’ve loved you for such a long time.”
“You make me feel complete, darling, and I haven’t felt that way in years. It’s like, before you, I let myself give up on the part of me that could havethis. On the part that wants to love fearlessly and loudly.” He plants his lips on my forehead, nose, then lips. “It’s everything about you. I get nervous around you,” Matthew chuckles under his breath. “Christ, I’m nervous out of my mind right now, baby, but you’re…you light up my life, Molly.”
I glow beneath each of his words. As if my chest is a holiday display, bright enough to be spotted from space.
Over the course of my life, I’ve experienced things I wish I hadn’t. Despite my mind and heart being covered in scars, Matthew has always seen past them. He’s witnessed who I am and the woman I’m becoming.He makes me feel safe.
I can barely find the words to explain that to him. “I love you.”
He pulls me closer, wrapping me in his arms, and I breathe in the mouthwatering vetiver of his cologne. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, and I find his blue eyes. “I was waiting to tell you after the holidays. After what happened with your parents, I wanted to give you space.”
“No, don’t.” I shake my head. “The stuff going on with my family is awful, but it was inevitable, and I’ll get through it. I know I will. I’m strong.”
“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”
“I promise, I love you and have loved you, and I think, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to keep loving you.”
“I’d like to keep loving you too.”
I rise onto my toes, connecting my lips to his. Every one of my cells is singing, humming a melody that only he and I can know. Bear comes bolting at us, meowing loudly at our feet.
My own little family.
