Page 155 of The Fake Out Flex

"Does that mean I get a do over?"

"You totally get a do over. In fact, I insist on one. We're going to need a much better story to tell people."

"Very true."

He bridges the gap between us in one swift motion, meeting me as I get up from the sofa. His big palm cups my cheek, and his fiery gaze holds me spellbound before he dips his head so that our foreheads touch. With his breath fanning out across my face, my whole body floods with warm anticipation.

"I should have stepped up and said this years ago. It's long overdue."

"Better late than never," I say, breathlessly, smoothing my hands down his ridiculously solid chest.

He pulls his head back, aims those two intense blue orbs at me, and says the words I thought I'd never hear him say. "I love you, Evelyn Freeman. And the more time I spend with you, I fall deeper and deeper in love with you."

"Oh, Fraser." I drape my arms around his neck, pulling myself closer to him. "I love you, too."

I lift onto my toes and bring my mouth to his.

Our lips meet, sealing our words, and I lose all track of time. Nothing else exists except for Fraser and me and this kiss.

He loves me.

Which means…

I pull back sharply.

"Everything okay?" Fraser asks. "My breath's not funky, is it? I did consume an inordinate amount of yogurt tonight."

"Your breath is fine," I assure him as my heart breaks out into a gallop in my chest.

"Well, what is it? I can tell something's up."

Everything about this relationship with Fraser has been so topsy-turvy, from the way it began right up to this very moment, that usually, I would have told him I'm a virgin and planning on waiting until I'm married a lot earlier.

I have to tell him now. He has a right to know.

"I've got something to tell you."

His jaw visibly tightens.

"It's nothing bad. Just…important. And also kind of embarrassing. But also necessary. Very necessary. You need to know this, and for the record, if after hearing what I have to say, you want to take back your I love you, I won't be mad."

"I would never do that," he says, swiping my cheek with his thumb, his eyes back to their usual laser-focused intensity. "But tell me what it is, please, because I'm starting to get worried."

I take a deep breath, do my best to ignore the unsettling sensation coiling in my chest, and reveal, "I'm a virgin."

His head tilts to the side. "Oh."

I press on. "Normally, I'm up-front and say this much earlier. But our relationship hasn't exactly been conventional."

"No. It hasn't."

"Our timeline has been all out of whack. It all started with us doing it just for show."

"It was never just for show for me," he says, his voice so low and husky it burns right through me. "I tried to pretend that it was. I went along with it because it gave me the chance to spend some time with you. Alone. I thought I could control my feelings, rein them in. But I couldn't. From the first time we hung out together, I was a goner."

"Does…does what I just said change anything for you?"

He shakes his head, a lock of hair falling onto his forehead. "It does."

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