Page 83 of A Fighting Chance

“Say what?”

“Tell me you love me,” I say.

His fists balls at his sides and I can see his jaw clench from across the room. “Lyla, I don’t know…”

“No, nothing else. Just, if it’s true, tell me. And if it’s not—”

“I love you,” he says, interrupting me.

I walk toward him, cutting the space between us in half and stopping again. “Ask me again,” I say.

His eyes narrow, like he doesn’t understand, like he doesn’t trust what I’m saying.

So I smile. “Ask me again, Gentry.”

He moves one foot forward, then the other, slowly, until all the space between us is gone. He’s close enough that I can feel the heat from his body. I can see the laugh lines around his red-rimmed eyes. The green flecks in his irises and the bloodshot whites. I press my palm to his cheek and he leans into it, pressing his hand against the back of it. He moves it down slowly, over his chest, and holds it there.

“Lyla, I love you. Please stay with me,” he says, his bottom lip quivering.

Tears are gathering in his eyes and I want to kiss his pain away, erase the hurt I’ve put there, but I can’t yet.

I lean in close to him and press my forehead against his, gathering all my strength. “I’ll stay with you, Gentry. Because I love you, too,” I whisper.

I feel his body relax, every rigid muscle growing soft as he wraps his arms around me so tight I think he might never let go. I hug his neck, and his lips find mine. He kisses me over and over again and I realize I can taste salt. My hands fly to his face and I wipe gently at his cheeks as I kiss him back, reassuring him with each one that I mean what I’ve said.

“Is this real?” he whispers against my mouth.

“This is life, my love,” I say.

He kisses my mouth again and then lifts me up over his shoulder.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask, but I already know.

“We have to make up for lost time,” he says.

I don’t object but I also know we have all the time in the world now. Because despite the details, this is where I’m going to be from now on. “I still have to go back to Boston, you know. I have to pack my apartment and give notice.”

“Okay, I’ll go with you. I’ve always wanted to see Boston,” he says, and I smile. “But not right now. Right now, I’m going to show you how much I’ve missed you these past few days.”

And he does.

Later, we lie in bed and I watch him sleep. His chest rises and falls slowly, and it hits me all at once.

I can memorize these moments all I want, but more are coming. This is my reality now—my life. Gentry is mine and I am his.

My eyes grow heavy and I drift to sleep with a smile on my face, knowing I will wake up in Gentry’s arms. Nothing has ever felt so right.

And I realize…thisis living.

Epilogue

GENTRY

I’ve been carryingthis ring around in my pocket for weeks now, but I think tonight is finally right. Why, I can’t say. Nothing special is happening. Lyla and I just plan to spend a quiet evening at home, but it feels like the time.

It’s been eight months since she officially moved here from Boston. We’ve been living together the entire time. I know it sounds crazy, but not for us. It fits us.

I sat down with Paw maybe three months in and asked for his blessing. He asked me what took so long, if that gives any indication as to how things are around here with us.

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