Page 121 of Love Me Fearless

“But that’s exactly what it does! You’re about to walk out of mylife—” I squeeze my eyes shut but my emotions refuse to stay locked down “—again.”

“What if there’s another option?” he says, his tone firm.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “This has always been the end for us.”

“Not this time,” he says.

“You have to go, Hutch. I—” A sob rattles up my throat. God, this hurts. How am I going to survive? “—understand. It’s what makes you the incredible person you are. The person I love. The person I’ve always loved.”

He gives my shoulders a gentle shake. “But it doesn’t make me whole.”

What is he saying? My head throbs and the pain inside me is carving out a giant emptiness, one I’ll never be able to fix.

“I’m not losing you, Ava. Not for anything.” He brushes away my tears with his thumbs, his gaze steady even as his lips tremble.

“But we’re out of time,” I say.

He kisses my forehead, his lips warm and gentle. “We’re going to find a way to make more of it.”

I fist the fabric of his T-shirt. “How?” The word comes out like a plea.

His face stills. “Marry me, Ava.”

His words ricochet inside my heart. “What?”

He exhales a shaky breath, his eyes locked on mine. “Ava Camille Greely, will you marry me?”

I tighten my grip on his shirt. “How does this buy us more time?”

“It doesn’t right now.” He swallows hard. “It’s a promise. For our future.”

I fight the sensation that I’m falling down a dark hole. “Together? Here?”

“If you’re here, that’s where I want to be too.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head so hard my brain feels like a rubber ball inside my skull. “You aren’t giving up your career for me.”

Because what happens when he gets tired of playing house and helping out at Moonbeam Farm or working some menial job?

What happens when he gets tired of me?

“You’re more important to me than the Air Force.”

“What if I’m not enough for you?” The words tumble free before I can hold them back.

His eyes fill with compassion. “Ava, sweetheart. You’ve always been enough.”

“Even for you?”

“Especially for me.” He draws in a tight breath, his expression tender, almost fearful. “I’ve just been too afraid of loving you the way you deserve because what if I do, and you don’t love me back?”

I swipe my cheeks. “But I’ve always loved you back.”

“Then marry me, Ava.”

“But…you’re leaving!” I stare him down.

“This time. But it’ll be the last.” He gives me a soft kiss, his lips warm and so soft. “And you can come visit.”

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