Page 37 of Say You're Mine

“Deal,” I agree.

“That way.” He steps out of the way. “They’re in the kitchen.” I hear them before I see them.

“Lev, don’t make me do this.”

“You don’t have to do anything.”

“You’re forcing my hand,” Gabriella hisses back. I step into the kitchen to see them standing feet from each other, both their cheeks flushed. They’re fighting. A smile spreads across Gabriella’s face when she spots me.

My Lev’s lips, however, purse. It’s the face she makes when she’s trying to hide her emotions. To push them down so no one can use them to hurt her. I hate that she’s had to live a life thathas made her feel as though she can’t ever allow herself to be vulnerable. It makes me wish I’d punched her father a lot more than one time.

“Took you long enough. There’s no trying to talk sense into this stubborn mule over here.” Gabriella pins Lev with a glare. Or at least the best glare Gabriella can come up with.

“Gabby,” Lev snaps at her.

“Don’t Gabby me. This is for your own good.” Gabriella walks around the kitchen island. “Fix it, or I’ll ask my husband to destroy you.” Again, Gabriella tries to glare. It’s terrible.

“If I can’t fix it,” I tell her—which I will, “I’m already destroyed.”

Gabriella gives me a nod, leaving us alone in the kitchen. Lev turns around and rests her hands on the kitchen island. Her beautiful face isn’t giving anything away.

“You’re a liar.”

“I guess I am.” I shrug.

“You said?—”

“I know what I said, and I don’t give a shit.” Lev huffs out a breath. I hate the fact that this island stands between us.

“It’s better this way.” The hitch in her voice gives her away. Not that I’d been buying any of it to begin with. Lev isn’t a cruel or mean person. Not unless provoked, and I hadn’t done anything to evoke that reaction from her. That meant she was leaving because she was doing it for me.

"Is it, darling? Because it doesn't feel better. Does it?"

"Don't call me that." There is no power behind her words.

"There are a few other things I would like to call you right about now." Her shoulders stiffen.

"Go on then," she challenges me. I don't hesitate. I set the box down on the counter.

"My fiancée, my wife, my future." Lev's eyes go wide, her lips parting in a small gasp.

"Oh my God, I think he put a ring on the counter," I hear whispered from behind me.

"You're loud, babe," Caleb says. "Come on. Going to finish what we started before these two showed up." If Gabriella protests at all, it’s not for long because the last I hear are her muffled giggles that seem to be getting farther away.

“Don’t do this to me.” Lev pulls her hands off the counter. “I’m trying to do the right thing here. Can’t you see that?”

“I’m starting to see that sometimes doing the wrong thing is what you need to do.”

“And that’s my point.” Lev’s eyes fill with tears, twisting my guts. “I’m making you do the wrong things. This isn’t you.” I can’t take it anymore. I round the kitchen island and pick her up, sitting her on it. I step between her legs.

“And that’s my point, darling. You’re different. You make me do things I’d never do for another soul. For you I’d do anything, and that’s the way it should be. Only for you would I do all the wrong things to have you and not care about anything else.” Tears slide down her cheeks. I rest my hands on her neck, using my thumbs to keep her chin up. I want those eyes on me. "I'm not letting you go." Lev closes her eyes.

I kiss her cheeks, stopping the tears. "I never cry," she whispers, her eyes still closed. "Only for you."

"Not sure that's a good thing."

Lev opens her eyes. "You're different for me too. You mean so much more. I don't know if my tears are sad or happy. I'm all twisted up inside."

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