Page 59 of An Engagement Pact

I run in a blur to the door and swing it open. Dan is standing on the stoop, panting loudly and gazing at me with his heart in his eyes.

I open my mouth in utter shock.

“I love you!” he bursts out. Then blinks like he surprised himself.

I make a weird little squeak.

“I love you, Vicky,” he says again. “Completely. All the way. So much that it feels like my head might fly right off my body. What we haveisreal, and I never should have let you doubt it. I love you. I’m sorry I’m only telling you now.”

I burst into tears and throw myself into his arms at exactly the same time.

He wraps his arms around me tightly, holding me against him as I sob into his shirt. Fortunately, the storm of emotion only lasts a minute.

Then I can pull away, beaming at him wetly. “I love you too.”

His face contorts briefly with feelings he can’t quite hide. “That’s good then.”

I blink as my mind starts to catch up. “How the hell did you get back here so fast? I just texted you a minute ago.”

He huffs in dry amusement, reaching over to cup my cheek. “I never left. I didn’t want to creep you all out, so I pulled out of the driveway. But I just parked on the street farther down the block. I... I couldn’t leave you.”

I give a little whimper as I process what he’s saying, but fortunately I don’t fall apart again.

“So your car is still down the block?”

“Yes. As soon as I got your text, I jumped out and ran back here.”

“I guess that’s why you’re out of breath.”

He laughs again, his whole body shaking. “That’s one reason.”

He hugs me again. Then finds my lips in an urgent, emotional kiss. Then I finally take his hand and guide him back inside.

Savannah, Jim, and Esther are all still in the living room, pretending not to eavesdrop. But they’re all grinning openly, so it’s clear they heard every word.

***

TWO HOURS LATER, I’Mclimbing into bed at Dan’s apartment.

We didn’t spend very much time at Jim and Esther’s since they go to bed early. So we left at the same time as Savannah and came back here to collapse.

It’s been less than a month since we got married and I started spending nights here. This apartment doesn’t really feel like home yet, but it doesn’t matter.

Dan is here, so it’s exactly where I want to be.

I took a quick shower when we got back because I was feeling all sloppy from crying and too much emotion. Then I put on one of Dan’s T-shirts before I got under the covers.

He’s taking a shower now, but he’ll be out soon.

I really can’t believe this is happening. That everything I wanted might actually come true.

Sure, I used to dream about it, but it’s been a long time since I believed it was possible for me.

I turned off all the lights except the lamp on Dan’s side of the bed. There’s plenty of light to see clearly when he comes out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but white boxer briefs and smelling like soap and toothpaste. His hair is damp around the edges. His legs and arms don’t look fully dried.

He’s gorgeous and sexy and brimming with warm feelings and utterly irresistible.

Andmine.

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