Page 161 of The Fake Out Flex

I just hope I haven't ruined everything.

"I've never loved anyone as much as I love you. It's…" He lets out a long, deep breath. "It's scary."

"Most relationships are. At least at the start."

"You saying it gets easier?"

"I'm saying I have no experience in relationships longer than twelve months, so I'm not the most qualified person to answer that. But when I look at my parents, or yours, or anyone who has been in a long-term relationship, then yeah, it seems like it does get easier. You know each other better. You build up trust. And you make sure you have healthy ways of resolving any disagreements or miscommunications that arise. Mom and Dad have a rule that they never go to bed angry, that if something happens that day, they deal with it that day."

He smiles. "I like that."

"I want you to know something else." I shuffle over, closing some of the distance between us. "I would never, ever betray you. No part of us being together was ever part of some covert attempt at getting a story about you or your family. I need you to really hear that."

"I do. I know you would never do anything that underhanded or sneaky. That's not who you are."

"I couldn't." A tear slides down my cheek, but I quickly brush it away. "I honestly couldn't."

He scooches down a bit closer to me, our knees almost touching. "I'm sorry I stormed out like I did. That wasn't very mature of me."

"Totally understandable given the circumstances."

"Can I make a suggestion? Two, actually."

"Go for it."

"One." He takes my hand, curling his thick fingers around it. "From now on, we take a page out of your parent's book and we don't go to bed without resolving things. Or in our case, since we don't share a bed, before we go to sleep. If it happens that day, we deal with it that day."

I nod. "Deal."

He gives my hand a firm squeeze. "And two, no more secrets. Ever."

"Deal again." I rub his forearm. "So…are we okay? Because I really don't like it when you don't like me."

"We're okay." He wraps an arm around my waist. "Want to know something really messed up?"

I lift my chin. "Always."

"Even when I'm meant to be mad at you, I still like you. It kept me up all night and drove me crazy."

"I have been known to have that effect on people."

We kiss, and it's soft and tender, and it feels like the best kiss we've ever had because everything is finally out in the open.

No more secrets.

No more not communicating.

No more leaving things unresolved.

I hate that it took us having a fight to get here, but it feels like we're on the right track. Nothing can stop us now.

22

Fraser

I'd love to say that working things out with Evie this morning has translated to having a great game tonight.

But if I did, I'd be a liar.

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