Page 94 of Thiago

“I understand, but can you understand how I felt when I found out about your job offer? I thought we were closer, and it seemed you were keeping yet another secret. You hold so much back. I still don’t understand why you took so long to tell me you had lupus.”

India shrugged. “I was afraid.”

“Of what?”

“Maybe you wouldn’t… want me anymore.” During their time apart, she had analyzed her actions and come to this sobering conclusion.

“How could you think such a thing?”

“I have an incurable disease, Thiago.”

“I don’t care. I love you.”

She blinked. His words shocked her.

“Yes, I love you. I want you in my life, and I don’t care that you have an illness.”

“You should care since one day my situation could become so bad I’ll have to be taken care of. What then?”

“I’ll still love you.”

Her chest tightened with emotion. “This isn’t a fairy tale.”

“No, it is real life. Do you think you’re the only person with health problems? My father has a bad back. My brother Ethan is deathly allergic to shellfish. Someone once told me I was mean and an asshole.”

“I wonder who that was,” India said. “By the way, that’s not a health problem. It’s a personality flaw.”

“The point is, we all have issues. I know those examples are not the same, but when you love someone, you love all of them. I love you, India. I want to marry you one day.”

He said the words she wanted to hear, but he didn’t fully understand the gravity of her illness.

“Thiago, I may never be able to have children. I would like to have at least one baby, but a child might not be in the cards for me.”

He shrugged in aso what?way.

“Think about it. What if I can’t have kids? What will you say when people ask?”

“I’ll tell them to mind their damn business, and so should you. Did you hear what I said? I love you. I wantyou. If we never have children, my life will still be complete because I’ll have you in it. Besides, you have your godchildren, and I have six siblings who I’m almost certain will all have children. There will be plenty of kids running around for us to love. We could be the rich aunt and uncle everyone wants to hang out with.”

He was easily knocking down every one of her arguments.

“How do you feel about me?” Thiago asked, his shoulders taut.

For the first time ever, she saw uncertainty in his eyes as he waited for her answer.

“I love you. So much,” India admitted.

His chest deflated as he released a long breath. “Then don’t leave me.” Thiago took her hand in his and lifted her knuckles to his lips. “And lean on me. You do not have to struggle on your own with the symptoms and the treatments.”

India stared at their hands together—his tanned, hers chocolate-brown. She lifted her gaze. “I need to tell you something. One more secret, in the interest of full disclosure.”

He visibly tensed. “Okay.”

“I don’t know how to cook,” she said.

Thiago visibly relaxed. “I know.”

“What do you mean you know?” India asked.