Page 113 of End Game

“And I don’t want to lose you.” She lifts her head, her imploring gaze meeting mine. “I probably shouldn’t say this because I don’t want to freak you out, but ...”

Her voice drifts, and she presses her lips together, looking scared shitless.

“Say it,” I urge, touching her face. Drifting my fingers across her cheek. “Unless you need me to say it first.”

Her lips part, but still no words come from her. She knows me so well already, but I think I still surprised her.

“I’ll say it first, then.” I cup her face with my hands, smoothing my thumbs across her cheeks, catching those last few tears. “I’m in love with you, Everleigh.”

More tears well in her blue eyes, and she closes them for a moment, shaking her head once. “You beat me to it.”

“I’m just trying to help you out.” I lean in and kiss her soft lips, lingering there. Breathing her in. “I love you.”

“I’m in love with you too.” Her words come out in a raw whisper that touches my fucking soul. Corny but true. “It’s way too soon, right?”

“No. Not at all. My mom always told me, when you know, you know.” I kiss her again, because how can I resist her after this major confession between us? “And I know about you, Ever. I love you.”

“I love you, Nico. So much.” She kisses me this time, and I touch my tongue to hers, retreating when she responds. “Everyone is going to think we’re crazy.”

“I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks about us,” I say truthfully, my voice fierce. “What we have together—it’s special.”

She rolls her eyes, laughing when I flash her a stern look. “Special?”

“Very special,” I emphasize, because damn it, I need her to see just how much she means to me. “I’ve never said those words to a woman before besides my mother and my older sister. Oh, and my grandma.”

Ever blinks repeatedly, like she’s trying to comprehend what I just said. “Really?”

I nod, letting go of her face and bracing my hands on either side of her head. “You’ve come to be my everything. Ever.” I grin, wondering if she gets tired of the play on words.

I can’t help myself. She really is my everything.

“You’re all I think about,” I tell her when she still hasn’t responded. “I can’t wait to see you when we’re apart. And I never want moments like this to end. When I’m with you in my bed, even when you drive me out of my mind with lust.”

She frowns. “I drive you out of your mind?”

Leaning in, I kiss her. It’s a long, tongue-filled kiss, and when I finally end it, she’s gasping for air. “I’m tired of being a gentleman and taking it slow. I need to be real with you—I’m dying to fuck you.”

“But your concussion—”

“Nope.” I shake my head, cutting her off. “I’m fine. Really. Just—I want to show you how much I love you, Ever. I’m all pent up and full of fucking emotion, and I’m worried I might explode if I can’t get inside you right now.”

Her smile is slow. Confident. I think she’s realizing the power she has over me and is loving it. “Okay.”

Relief flooding me, I kiss her again, trying to communicate with my lips and tongue how much she means to me.

How much I love her.

How I’m never, ever going to let her go.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

EVERLEIGH

I wind my arms around Nico’s neck as we continue to kiss, my fingers sliding into the thick, soft hair at his nape. It feels as if I’m floating on a cloud, overwhelmed by Nico’s confession of love. Overwhelmed by my own confession.

When I arrived in Santa Mira, my life was a mess, and it only seemed to get worse. I felt as if I lost everything and was starting over from scratch. The only people I could rely on were my new roommates, and we were basically strangers.

Now they feel like my family, every single one of them. Even Gavin. Especially Sienna.

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