Page 60 of Where We Fall

"Honestly, it might be a habit. For the longest time, I was the young, immature one doing stupid shit. They were older and wiser. I guess somewhere in there, I grew up, but nobody seems to have realized it."

"Not even yourself?"

He sighs. "Not even me. You're the first person to really see me, Lexi. I mean, I do still have this adventurous, goofy side to me, but I'm not the man they think I am. Ihavegrown up."

"Well, next time you feel like they are treating you like the boy you once were and not the man youare…you should speak up."

"How can someone as perfect as you see me as somebody worthy? I'm still trying to figure that out. You're a killer combination. Sexy, smart, kind, funny."

It's amazing how someone like him can be blind to what a catch he is.

"You helped me see who I really am. Not just brains but…" I struggle to get the words out because it feels odd to say.

"Beauty… you can say it. Youarebeautiful. You don't realize the heads you turn when we are in public."

"I wouldn't go that far," I reply. "Either way, we're helping each other see what we're blind to see in ourselves."

There's a moment of silence where we stare at each other like we're looking into each other's souls.

"Do you believe in fate?" he asks, surprising me with his question.

"I don't know. I think so. I think there is something bigger out there that can intervene or help orchestrate something that's meant to be."

"I think fate brought us together."

My heart skips a beat. He just says whatever he feels. It's incredible how he can do that without worrying about getting laughed at or his feelings stomped on.

"You do?" My voice cracks.

"Yeah. I think getting us in each other's lives clearly wasn't enough. I was too blind. Fate needed to create a scenario that opened my eyes to what was right in front of me."

I try to hold back the tears that want to spill over.

I blow out a breath and blink quickly to lock down my emotions. "You do realize that's like the most romantic thing anybody has ever said?"

"Is it?" He shrugs his shoulders like it's nothing. "I think it's true."

"Me too."

We smile at each other, and I wish we weren't so far apart. I want to kiss him, to feel his warmth next to me.

"Alright, here we go." Nicholas interrupts, carrying two trays with our pizza on them. "You two enjoy."

"Wow." I look down at our food. "They actually look pretty damn good."

"Right? We got some skills."

We both grab a piece and take a large bite, moaning simultaneously. I know there's not really much credit we can take for this. The dough was made, the toppings prepared, the pizza taken out for us. But it's still fun to pretend it was our own doing.

"I need to try some of yours," I tell him after I take another bite.

"Same." He gives us each a piece of each other's pizza.

The rest of the evening is spent laughing and enjoying our food and wine. When it's over, I'm shocked it's been three hours. The night just flew by.

We thank Nicholas for his hospitality and then head outside to the car.

"You wanna come back to my place?" he asks as he pulls out.

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