Page 92 of Tempest

“Yeah, okay,” I say, though I grab my phone from under the cushion where I stashed it and send a quick text.

“She told me she loves me tonight,” Odette says, emotion thick in her throat.

“Ah, babe. Of course, she does.”

“It’s different hearing it,” she says. And don’t I know that all too well.

“Sure, it is, but you had to know how she feels about you.”

“I did, but…” She pauses. “It made me realize that I’ve been a bitch.”

“What? To who?”

“To you,” she says, adjusting until her face hovers inches in front of mine. “You know how I feel, but I should have said it.”

“Then say it, Ode.” I press a small kiss to the corner of her lips.

“I love you, Gavin. I love you so much that I feel like I’m walking on clouds all day. I love you so much that my favorite place to be is curled up in your arms, it’s where I want to be when I take my last breath,” she says, staring into my eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner.”

“You said it when you were ready. You don’t have to apologize for that.”

“You’re too nice to me.”

“I can be not nice to you in bed later, if that will make you feel better.”

“Yes, please,” she says, nodding. I laugh.

“I love you, too, Odette.”

“I know you do. You show me every day.”

I’ll keep showing her every day. It’s my favorite thing to do.

“There’s something for you on the kitchen counter.”

“A present?”

“Go see.”

I follow as she gets up and prances her way into the kitchen.

“Ooh, that smells good. Lentil soup?”

“Yes, but that’s not your gift.” I nod to the paper sitting on the counter and she snatches it up. “I owe you a trip.”

“Paris for my birthday?”

“Yeah, I even found a place with a private rooftop pool.”

“Skinny dipping in Paris for my birthday,” she clarifies, setting the paper down and jumping into my arms.

“I was feeling nostalgic.”

“I like that, but I’m more interested in making new memories with you, Gavin.”

“We’ll make plenty of those, Ode,” I say before sealing the promise with a deep kiss.

Epilogue

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