Page 122 of Tamed By You

All my love, Dad x

He found my dad’s book. The one my mom sold. The only piece of him I had. Its purchase value never mattered to me. It’s what this book represented and the memories that held the most value.

I blink away the tears and turn to face Harry, his own eyes filled with unshed tears.

“Thank you,” I sob. He opens his arms and, like always, he catches my fall, allowing me to be vulnerable. I never thought Icould be this open and raw with someone, but with him, it feels so natural.

I lean back, wiping away the tears. “How… why would you get me this?”

“The how took me some time. I know a few people and we tracked down the buyer and I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

“I’ll pay you back, I have—”

“No, you won’t,” he interrupts, “it’s my gift to you. I wanted to get this for you.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He smiles.

I shake my head. Both wanting to hear the words and scared to hear them.

“Do you remember what I said to you in Paris?”

Shaking my head, I’m unsure what he’s referring to.

“Je Pense que je tombe amourex de toi. I told you to ask me when we were back home, so… ask me, Ali Cat.”

With everything that went on after my return from London, I had forgotten all about the words he said to me. “W-what did you say…” Words fail me as my stomach flutters in anticipation.

“I think I’m falling in love with you.”

“You can’t.” Panic, excitement, fear, all the above flooding my body. I clutch the book like it's my life raft.

“Why, tell me why.” He carefully removes the book from my arms, places it back in the box, and takes my hands in his.

“Tell me why I can’t be hopelessly head over heels crazy in love with you.” I gasp, hearing those words fall from his lips. “Because I am, and I don’t think anymore. I know I am.”

“B- B- Because I’m a lot,” I choke.

“True.” He winks

“I’m wild.” He nods. “I don’t know when to shut up.”

He laughs. “Also, true.”

“I’m sarcastic.”

“You sure are.”

“I’m messy and chaotic and…” I stop, running out of reasons why because truly, this moment is more than I could ever imagine.

“And, for all those reasons and because you are kind, you are loyal, your strength is inspiring, you make me laugh, you make me feel alive. You, Alice Hart, make me feel a way no one else has. You get me. You are my perfect match, the only one for me. I love every version of you, and all the parts you think that make you unlovable. I love those parts that little bit more.”

All I can do while I get my words together is kiss him. I kiss him like it will be the last time; I cup his face and hold him so tightly for fear he will disappear, that maybe this moment isn’t real, and it’s all a dream. That maybe I am still falling, making my journey to Wonderland and any moment now I’ll hit the ground and wake up and none of this will be real. But I don’t hit the ground, I don’t wake up. He’s still here, kissing me back with the same passion as I am.

I break the kiss, resting my forehead against his, needing a second to catch my breath. Meeting his gaze with mine, needing him to know I mean these words that fall from my lips.

“I love you too, H. Every part, every version of you.”

---