Page 44 of All Along

“Bunny, I’m never letting you go.”

“I need to go.”

He pinches my chin and tilts my head up until our gazes clash. “Did you hear me? I’m never letting you go.”

“You can’t—”

I slam my mouth shut when I realize he’s disagreeing with me. I wipe the tears from my cheeks. “Wait. What did you say?”

He nudges my hands out of the way to take over wiping my tears. “I’m never letting you go, Bunny.”

“But we’re friends. You don’t want more.”

“I’ve always wanted more.”

My mouth gapes open. “You did?”

He kisses mynose. “Yes.”

“But why didn’t you tell me? Why did you stay away for so long?”

He glances away. “I wasn’t ready.”

“You weren’t ready?” I snort. “Is this your way of letting me down easy? You’re worried how I’m going to react so you lie and say you’ve always wanted me?” I shake my head. “You don’t want me.”

How could he? My own parents don’t want me. Why would Caleb, the man who could have any woman he wants with a crook of his finger, want me?

“I’m pretty sure I showed you how much I want you last night.”

“It was—”

He growls. “Don’t you dare tell me it was only sex. It was more than sex and you know it.”

“But—”

“No. I’m not listening to whatever bullshit you’re thinking up to put me back in the friend zone. I finally got out of there and I’m not going back.”

“Not going back?”

He nods. “You and me? This relationship? It’s no longer fake. We’re doing this.”

“You’ve decided and that’s all there is to it?”

“Yep.”

I glare at him. “You can’t unilaterally decide we’re a couple.”

“I can and I did.”

“This is not how things work!”

I try to shove him away but he captures my hands. “Do you not want to be in a relationship with me?”

“I didn’t say I don’t want to be in a relationship with you.”

“Then, why are you fighting me?”

Because I can’t believe it. All my dreams are coming true. I thought my dreams coming true would be exciting. It’s not. It’s scary. More than scary. It’s terrifying.

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