Page 67 of Too Hostile

“Because you deserve love too. You don’t see it, and I get it, but I’ll show you. I’m just the right kind of stubborn you need. I’m going to love you so damn hard, you’ll never question it again.”

I let out a sob, wanting so badly to believe him. “I love you too, Fletcher.”

God, his entire face lights up at that. “I know you do. But man, is it good to hear it.”

I smile and he presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I love you. I love you. I love you,” he whispers against my mouth.

“I love you too,” I finally say the words I’ve wanted to tell him for so long, and it’s not as terrifying as I thought it would be. “But I can’t let you rearrange your whole life for me.” Before he can argue with me, I quickly press another quick kiss to his lips. “I’m sorry. I should have talked this out with you. You’re right, you aren’t immature just because of your age. I should have talked to you.”

“You should have,” he says smugly and then pulls me over to the couch with him. He plops down and wraps his heavy arm around my shoulder. “Let’s talk now.”

“You can’t sacrifice your education for me,” I start.

He just scoffs loudly. “Please. Rockford is costing my parents three times what it costs to go to school here. Clearly, it’s the better education.”

I can’t help laughing at that, but I shake my head too. “So Blair got involved.”

“Oh, yeah.” He chuckles. “Full mama-bear mode. She had no problem whatsoever with this plan, though, just so you know. Rhys and she are fully on board.” He turns his head, and I turn mine so we’re looking directly at each other. “There’s nothing she won’t do for love.”

I smile at that, but it fades. “I’m afraid to let you change your world for me, Fletcher.”

He just shrugs his wide shoulders. “I want to go to college, that’s true. But it never really mattered to me which college. This is the perfect solution. I won’t be a student at the college where you teach. At this school, I’m hoping to be just your boyfriend. I’ll be a student at Rockford.”

I grin and shake my head. “Jesus. Was it always that simple?”

He smiles. “You know it wasn’t always just about losing your job, right? I mean, not really.”

I nod because yeah, I do. My job is important to me, and I don’t want to lose it. It would have wrecked me, but I was scared. Plain and simple. “I couldn’t believe someone could love me. Not for real.”

He nods. “I know. I know you’re terrified to let your happiness hang so much on another human being loving you. It’s scary.”

“It is.”

He grins and kisses me softly. “But you know that ship has sailed already. I hate to tell you this, but I’ve been ingrained in you since that first kiss.”

“And not at all modest about it.”

His smile widens. “Nope. You’re ingrained in me too. You make me happy.”

“Relying on another human to make you happy is dangerous, Fletcher. I’m a grumpy bastard. I don’t want to ruin you.”

“Then don’t,” he says simply as he holds onto me. “Love me just as fiercely as I love you. Hold me tight and never let me go. Even when you’re scared.”

“I am scared,” I say honestly and then cup his face in my hands and look him straight in the eyes. “But I do love you. Fiercely. Forever. No matter what. I’m so goddamn in love with you, Fletcher.”

He smiles and then smashes his lips to mine in a punishing kiss that tells me just how much he loves me too.

I can’t believe I almost let fear win. I can’t believe I almost lost him because of it. But I know, without a doubt, I’m never letting him go again.

Fletcher is mine to love, and I’m his.

FLETCHER

He’s mine. I should have never doubted Blair. And as soon as she came up with the easiest plan in the world for me, I knew I was going to get my man. To some, changing colleges may seem like a big deal, but for me, it was a no-brainer.

“Rockford is two hours from here.” Ronan, of course, is overthinking, but I can also feel that he’s in this with me.

He loves me.

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