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“Mae wanted to bring you a flower,” I tell her. “From her collection. Which, for the record, includes weeds, grass, and one sad pinecone that might be older than I am.”

Ani lifts her head just slightly and I produce a dandelion from my shirt pocket. She smiles as she accepts it.

“She made Jonah promise to help her learn how to spell your name tomorrow.”

She exhales softly and continues to smile.

I sit there with her, shoulder to shoulder, patiently waiting for her to speak.

“You don’t have to be okay for us to love you,” I say finally, my voice low and steady. “You know that, right?”

She stiffens. Her hand finally goes still.

And then, without looking at me, she whispers, “I don’t think anyone’s ever loved me.”

Her words gut me.

I turn toward her slowly. My hand finds her face and cups it gently like she’s made of glass. Her skin is warm and soft under my palm.

I lean in until we’re only inches apart.

“Ilove you,” I say.

Her eyes widen. She blinks several times in quick succession. Then her mouth opens, shuts, and opens again.

I swallow hard and keep going, because if I stop now, I won’t be able to get it all out.

“I know I joke around too much. I talk too much. I’m not the guy people look at and think dependable. But I am. I swear to God, Ani, I am here for you.”

I continue. “You don’t have to do anything special. You don’t have to earn your place here. You already have it and you have me. Forever.”

She blinks slowly, like she can’t believe what I just said.

“I love you,” I say again, because I need her to hear it again.

She exhales like she’s been holding her breath for hours.

And then she moves.

She surges forward so fast I barely have time to react–one second she’s frozen, the next she’s on me. Her arms wrap around my neck as her mouth presses to mine with a force that surprises me.

Her mouth parts and I kiss her back with everything I have. I run my hands through her hair. She makes a noise in her throat that hits me straight in the groin.

She shifts, moving into my lap, her thighs on either side of mine. My hands move to her waist, my thumbs brushing her skin just under her shirt.

She breaks the kiss for half a second—just long enough to breathe—but her eyes are locked on mine like she’s afraid I might disappear if she looks away.

I shake my head. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She kisses me again.

Even harder this time.

And I let her take whatever she needs.

Her kiss turns urgent—hungrier than ever. Her hands thread through my hair and tug, and fuck, I let her. I want her wild. I want her wrecked.

“You never have to hold back,” I whisper against her lips. “Not with me.”