Page 81 of Finding London

“Well, yeah, that totally sucks,” I admit. “But you know it doesn’t mean anything where we are concerned, right? I’ll wait for you, Loïc. That isn’t even a question. You know that, right? I’ll miss you like crazy, but I’ll be here when you get back, loving you just as much as I do now, if not more.”

“A year is a long time, London. I can’t ask you to do that for me. It isn’t fair to you.”

“Stop right there. I know you’re new to this whole I-love-you thing, but when you love someone the way I love you, time and distance aren’t issues. My love doesn’t come with conditions. I don’t love you because you’re here right now. My feelings aren’t going to expire because I’m not able to see you every day.”

His eyes narrow. “Are you saying that you want to wait for me?”

He’s so innocent in this moment that I can’t help but laugh.

“Of course I will! I love you. Get it through your thick skull.”

A slow smile crosses his face as he releases a huge breath.

I shake my head, huffing out a laugh. “Did you really think I’d want to break up because you’re being deployed?”

“I don’t know. I guess I didn’t know what to expect. But I was prepared for anything.”

“Loïc”—his name comes out as a whine—“you have a lot to learn about love.” I squint down at him. “You don’t want to date other people while you’re over there, right?” I accusingly furrow my brow.

“No, of course not. You’re the only person in this world I want, London.”

“And you’re the only one I want. You see how this love thing works both ways?”

“Yeah, I suppose I do.” He chuckles.

“Plus, it will be kind of romantic. We can write love letters to each other while you’re gone.”

“I’ll have access to the Internet when I’m on base.” He grins.

“Fine, we can use your Internet connection for Skype and Internet sex, but other than that, I want letters, like snail-mail letters. That will be so romantic.”

“Internet sex?” he questions with a huge grin.

“Of course. Just because you’re a million miles away doesn’t mean I’m not going to take care of my man,” I say seriously.

“I think your mileage is a tad off.”

I roll my eyes. “It will feel like a million miles, believe me. Anything more than a ten-minute drive away is too much.” His smile falls a bit, and I quickly clarify, “But just because I’ll miss you immensely won’t change anything. You’re stuck with me.”

“Good.” He grasps my face and pulls me in for a quick kiss.

“But, seriously…I can’t wait to get your letters. You can tell me all the things you miss about me, what you’d be doing if you were with me, how much better your life is because I’m in it. You can write all your fantasies revolving around our future.”

Loïc laughs loudly. “Wow, you’ve really planned this out in the thirty seconds since you found out I was leaving.”

“What can I say? I like to plan.”

“Really? ’Cause you haven’t even applied for one job since I’ve met you. You seem content on coasting through life without planning a damn thing.”

He smiles, and I know he’s just teasing.

“That’s not true! I’ve applied. I just haven’t gotten an interview yet. I will though. Maybe my job search hasn’t been as intense as it should be. But can you blame me? I’ve been preoccupied, trying to get the love of my life to like me back. Then, once he liked me, a whole other set of distractions came.” I playfully wiggle my eyebrows.

He shakes his head in amusement, and his lips tilt up into a cute smirk. “Love of your life?”

“So far. So, don’t mess it up.” I poke him in the side.

He rolls us over so that I’m pinned beneath him.

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