Page 88 of Knotted Laces

“And you’ve gone and made me fall in love with you too!”

I freeze, hope a blistering wave through my veins. “What?”

She stills, her mouth dropping open. I watch as she takes a step back, another, before I snap out of it and burst into motion.

I’m across the room in a flash, so fast that Cookie hisses and swats at my ankles. I just ignore him, moving to Athena and wrapping my fingers around her wrist, holding her in place when she would have taken another pace back.

“What did you say?” I ask quietly.

She shakes her head. “I’m here for you. Here because I’m worried for you and you pushed me away. What happened?”

“Coach pulled me into his office and was an asshole.” I shift my grip, cupping both of her shoulders and turning her to face me completely. “It got in my head, and I needed a couple of hours to decompress.”

Her chin comes up. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

I slide my hands down, holding her waist, drawing her close, near enough to feel all of the soft of her against all of the hard of me. “Fair point, cupcake.” I touch my nose to hers. “I should have told you.” I press a brief kiss to that lush mouth. “Now,” I murmur as I pull back, “what did you say?”

Her chest is rising and falling in rapid gusts and for a moment, I think she’s not going to answer me.

But then exhales, drops her forehead against my shoulder, and says, “Why is this so fucking scary?”

“Because it’s new. Because you were taught not to trust love. Because I’ve spent a decade in love with you and I’m long beyond the fear. I just…”

Her head lifts, eyes blazing with emotion as she holds my gaze.

“I justloveyou, cupcake. Every part of you I know and the secrets I’m still unearthing. You’re…home. I’m never more settled or quiet or at peace as I am when I’m with you.”

“Cam,” she whispers.

“I love your strength and beauty and the fact that this is a big step. I love that you’ve let me in and that you’re here, that you knew something was wrong so you tracked my stubborn ass down and forced me to talk. I love that you adopted Cookie and now you’ve been sending me Reels about cat harnesses and tiny cat doors and adorable hats he can wear.”

“You started it,” she whispers.

My heart squeezes. “I spent ten years loving a fantasy, baby, only to realize that you’re more than I could ever dream up.”

“Cam,” she whispers, eyes going damp.

“And I love?—”

Her fingers press to my lips. “Honey.”

There my heart goes again.

“Yeah?” I mumble against her fingers.

“I loveyou.” Her eyes slide closed for a beat. Then open and I find that my lungs don’t want to work, that my heart has rolled over and offered itself up on a platter. “It’s scary and terrifying and I’m half-convinced I’m still going to do something to fuck it up?—”

“Cupcake—”

“But…I know you, Cam Jackson. I’ve spent these ten years learning you, trusting you, understanding you, even if I didn’t fully see you for the man you are.”

“Athena—”

“I’m sorry for that,” she murmurs. “I wish I’d—” A shake of her head. “I wish I’d been open to something sooner. Maybe then you wouldn’t have—” She sighs. “Maybe then you wouldn’t have had to shoulder everything alone.”

“I wishI’dsaid something sooner.” I tug at a curl. “Like maybe five years ago.” I smile at her. “Because maybe then I would have realized you weren’t in love with Lex.”

“I wouldn’t have been open to anything anyway.”

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