Page 118 of No Freaking Way

For a second, I stand there, stunned.

“You are?”

He nods. “I completely understand why you’d give up a work opportunity for the woman you love. Because that’s something I wish I would have done years ago when I was wrapped up in my career. I sacrificed my marriage for my career. Biggest mistake of my life.”

He blinks, sadness flashing through his eyes. “I lost the woman I love for a long time because I chose work over love. You’re making the right choice.”

He pulls me into a hug. I hug him back, relieved that he understands.

Just then, the door to Tori’s hospital room opens all the way.

I see Maya, Becca, and my mom standing there, all of them staring at me with wide eyes. They overhead everything.

That means Tori must have heard it all too.

My heart rockets to my throat. They step off to the side, revealing Tori sitting up in bed.

She looks dazed as she gazes at me.

“You love me?”

Chapter 38

Tori

Istare at Tyler, stunned at what he’s said.

He blinks at me, the emotion clear in his eyes.

“I love you,” he says.

I’ve fantasized about him telling me he loves me a million times. I’ve never pictured it like this though, with him declaring his love for me while I’m in a hospital bed, in front of our friends and a good chunk of his family.

But that doesn’t matter. My heart is throbbing in my chest. Emotion wells up inside of me. Hearing him say those three words shatters me in the most beautiful way.

Tingles flash all over my body. I start to smile and open my mouth to speak.

“We should leave you two alone,” Tyler’s mom says suddenly.

I let out a flustered laugh as she grabs Maya by the hand, pulling her out of the room. Becca scurries behind them. Tyler moves to the side as they walk out of the room, then closes the door behind him.

For a second, he just stands there at the foot of my bed and looks at me, that ridiculously handsome smile on his face.

“You love me,” I say again, giving myself an extra moment to process it. I’m grinning like a fool, but I can’t help it. Tyler Grant is in love with me.

Still smiling, he steps over to me and sits on the edge of my bed. He scoops my hand in his, lacing our fingers together.

“I love you, Tori.” His voice is gentle but firm all at once. I can hear the conviction in his tone, I can see it in his eyes. I can tell just how much he loves me.

“I love you too,” I say.

Tyler closes his eyes and clutches his free hand to his chest. He falls back slightly, still smiling, bowled over by my words. My stomach does a somersault at his reaction to hearing me say I love him too.

He straightens back up, opens his eyes, and looks at me.

“You love me?” he asks.

I start to giggle and bite my lip. I nod, feeling lightheaded and silly and giddy at how our conversation over the last minute has consisted of the same phrase repeated over and over, as statements and questions.

---