Page 75 of Bit's Bliss

“Tell me what you stopped yourself from saying.”

“It was—actually, I stopped myself on purpose that time.”

“Tell me,” he repeated.

I counted to seven while taking in a deep breath. “I like you. A lot.”

“Come over here.” He tugged me to his lap. “You like mea lot?”

“Yes.”

He chuckled. “I, on the other hand, remember the exact moment I fell in love with you.”

“You love me?” I gasped.

“Eberly, please. There are many things in your life you can’t be sure of. Me? How I feel about you? Mylovefor you. It’s an absolute.”

“I, um, don’t know what to say.”

He leaned forward, and I could feel his warm breath on my ear. “Be honest with me about your feelings,” he whispered.

“I remember the exact moment I fell in love with you.” I rolled my eyes. “Of course, you don’t even remember meeting me that day.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Will you tell me when you fell in love with me?” I asked.

“Of course. But you first.”

“It was right after crush. I think I was maybe seventeen. Los Caballeros was hosting the harvest party that year, and?—”

“You were sitting on the ground under the big white oak tree. Your legs were crossed, and you were running your hand over the grass.”

My eyes opened wide. “I was so bored.”

Trevino shook his head. “You were feeling left out of the festivities.”

“I was. Everyone was dancing, even Isabel, who at the time was the epitome of an ugly duckling. Sorry, I know that isn’t nice.”

He winked. “Isabel isn’t nice.”

“I saw you walking in my direction and was sure you’d go right on by. I even looked over my shoulder to see whoever it was you were on your way to talk to.”

“I took your hand and pulled you to your feet?—”

I smiled, but my eyes also filled with tears at the memory. “And we danced under the twinkling lights.”

“For the first time.”

“I thought you didn’t remember.”

He put his arms around me. “And now I do. Is that why you insisted we string them in the old winery?”

My cheeks flushed. “I’ve dreamed of dancing with you again ever since that first night, and it’s always under those same lights.”

“All it took for you to fall in love with me was dancing?” He grinned.

“You know it was so much more than that.” I brushed away the tear that slid down my cheek. “That night, I told my mom I’d marry you someday. She put her arm around me and told me you were always her favorite Avila boy.”