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“These things happen. Accidents happen. You got pregnant. That’s as much my fault as it is yours.” I open my mouth to disagree, but he’s quick to continue. “The miscarriage... Also not your fault.”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you saw how much alcohol I was pouring down my throat last night,” I say gruffly.

“You and I both know that had nothing to do with it. People drink before they know they’re pregnant all the time. This isn’t your fault. This is a medical condition that you have and you bear no fault in this.”

“But you must be relieved.” I have trouble meeting his eyes, but his hold on my face remains, shifting so that I have no choice but to look at him.

“I won’t lie and say that a part of me isn’t relieved. I am. I’m not ready to be a father any more than you’re ready to be a mother. But I’m also sad. For you. For me. For the child we lost.”

Fresh tears streak past my lashes and fall down my cheeks, joining the many others that have fallen before them.

“You should hate me. You have every right to,” I manage to say.

“I could never hate you, Charlotte.” His eyes rake over my face, hovering over my lips for a brief moment before meeting my gaze once more. “Not when I’m so fucking in love with you it hurts.”

My mouth parts at his admission. My heart beats a new hole in my chest as it pounds erratically.

“You love me?” The words are nothing more than a whisper on my lips.

“More than I ever thought possible...”

“But you left.” I blink.

“I left because I was scared and confused, and I needed time to figure out how I truly felt. But I’m here now, and if you’ll have me, I’m not going anywhere.”

“You want...”

“I want us to be together. For real. Out in the open for all to see. I want to scream my feelings for you from the rooftops. I want to parade you in front of crowds of people, letting everyone see that the most incredible woman in the world ismine. That’s what I came here to tell you. That’s what I should have told you the second you opened your door this morning.”

“But what about... What about all the things you said a few months ago? About how this would never work.”

“Fuck what I said. I only said those things because I was trying to keep you at a distance. I knew I was in love with you even then. And I was terrified. Because I knew, deep down, what I know sitting here today—that you have the power to destroy me if you choose to do so.”

“I would never... I love you,” I choke out the words.

“Be with me. Tell me you’ll be mine.”

“I’m already yours. I’ve been yours since the moment we met. You just didn’t know it yet.”

He cuts off anything else I might have said by pressing his mouth to mine.

He kisses me like I’m the sun warming his skin on a summer day.

Like I’m the axis his world revolves around.

Like I am the moon and the stars and the whole universe wrapped up into one.

Like I ameverything.

And I kiss him back just the same.

Because he is all those things to me and more.

He is my whole world.

And I will hold on to him with all that I have until my dying breath, and maybe even after...

“Get a room.” We break apart at the sound of Lyric’s voice, my eyes finding hers the instant she steps inside. “Glad to seeyou two made up.” She smiles, looking between the two of us. “Mind if I have a second alone with my best friend?” she asks, her focus now solely on River.