Page 50 of Oblivious

“Yeah, I’ve loved you for years.”

My stomach sinks a little. “Oh, you mean as friends?”

“Yes, and no. Iloveyou. I’m not sure there’s a border where one side is friend love and the other romantic love. I love you. Always have. I just didn’t realise howmuchI loved you until now.”

My heart flutters. I wrap my arms around him and pull him onto my lap so I can kiss him passionately.

“I love you too.”

I know I mean it the moment the words slip off my tongue. He’s right. There isn’t any distinction between the love I felt for him two weeks ago and the love I feel now. There’s no label on it that says ‘friendship only’ or ‘romance only’. There’s just love—pure, wonderful, and real.

Chapter14

Fitz

I ring the doorbell and then slip my hand into Addy’s. He looks at me, eyebrows lifted in surprise.

“They’re going to figure out we’re together in about thirty seconds,” I tell him. “We all know I don’t have a poker face. Besides, Iwantthem to know. I figured this was the simplest way.”

“You don’t want to make an announcement?”

“Hell, no!”

Joe opens the door. He’s grinning, which is nothing new. Then his gaze drops to our hands.

“About fucking time. Beer?”

“That would be great,” Addy says as we step inside and shut the door behind us.

We take our coats and shoes off and hang them up before joining everyone else in the dining room. I hold Addy’s hand, which earns us both some amused looks.

“When’s the wedding?” Stephen asks.

I roll my eyes.

“Tilly will want to be a bridesmaid.”

“Tilly’s three. I doubt she has any concept of what a bridesmaid is,” I retort.

“She’d look adorable in a flower girl dress,” Stephen says. “She could scatter rose petals.”

“She’d probably try to eat them,” Sophie muses.

“Are rose petals poisonous?” Stephen looks at Addy.

“No, they’re edible.”

“They are?” I ask. “Now I know what I’m adding to salads next Valentine’s Day.”

“Speaking of Valentine’s Day, did everyone have a good time?” Max asks.

“We did,” Joe says, entering the room with two open beer bottles. He hands one to Adrian and one to me.

“It was a nice hotel,” Max agrees, handing me an unopened pack of cards.

“Why do I always have to shuffle?”

“Because you’re the most honest person here,” Ana says.