Page 167 of Beautiful Storm

But with you, my love is the most natural thing in the world. As though I was made for you. And maybe that’s true.

I can still remember the first day I saw you. You were being chased by your older neighbors and hating every second of it. Even then you knew how to pout to get attention and you sure got mine.

Then two days later, we started at the same kindergarten in the same class. You were nervous, struggling to let go ofyour dad’sDamien’s arms, and I vowed then that I would always look out for you. But I didn’t openly make that pact until years later. And for a while, I kept that promise.

Until I didn’t.

All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy and safe. Even when I thought I hated you, deep down I knew I’d protect you with all that I had. But I fucked up. Over and over again. And this last time, you could have died. Hell, you could have died in the fire all those years ago if it wasn’t for David.

I’ve made so many bad decisions in the name of “protecting” you that maybe you’d be better off without me. Maybe it would be easier on you if I stayed on the sidelines and let you live your life with Juliet and someone else that made you happy, while I protected you both from afar.

Only however noble that might be, I can’t bring myself to do it.

I’m not an insecure guy, in fact some would say that I’m cocky as hell but I’mterrifiedthat I’m not built for this. That I’ve messed up too much to deserve this life.

Despite that, I can’t do this life without you. No, it’s more than that… I don’twantto. And I swear I will fight for youand fight against you if you try to tell me we’re not meant to be.

Because for me, it’s always been you. And for you, deep down, it’s always been me (sorry, Preston, but also not sorry).

In short, I’m probably going to fuck up again. And there will be times when you want to scream at me or throw something. But I can guarantee that I’m going to love you with all of my heart for as long as you’ll have me. No, wait… fuck that, I’m going to love you for as long as I want to, even if you don’t want me back.

You and Juliet are the world I didn’t know I was missing. And I thank the stars, every day that I somehow found you both.

I’m sorry and I love you.

Love, Luke

PS Don’t worry, I didn’t read anything.

P.P.S I know traditionally I’m supposed to write “Dear Diary” but that felt weird. Actually, do you still write “Dear Diary”? You call it a journal now, right?

P.P.PS In case it wasn’t clear… I love you.

Trust Luke to make me laugh as tears stream down my face like a waterfall and my heart breaks for him and all that I’ve put him through. “What did I do?” I never once stopped to think about his reasons for doing things. I knew him. Iknewhow much he cared for me but I never let myself trust him. “Oh, Luke.”

“I’m here,” he says, stepping into view, his face paling at my tears. “What’s wrong?”

He rushes forward as I hold up my journal before dropping it back on the bed and wiping my face. “You wrote in here?”

Luke scratches his head and the palest of pink coats his cheeks. “Ahh yep. Did you read it?”

“I did.” His nose scrunches, embarrassed, but before I can say anything, he continues on. “That was me finally opening up to someone. To you. I tend to hold things back and suffer in silence, but I made a promise not to do that anymore. I want you to know everything.”

“There was a moment there when I thought it was going to be a breakup note.”

“Yeah, well, if I was a decent man, I might have walked away and let you find someone better. But I’m too selfish for that. I need you too much.”

I force myself to bite back my smile and reach for his hand. “You are the least selfish person I know, Luke. Even now, I bet you made the decision to fightbecauseof me.Because as you said… deep down I knew it was always meant to be you. Sorry, Preston, not sorry.”

Luke laughs as he squeezes my hand and then it’s my turn to pour my heart out.

“I’m sorry. So, so sorry. I should have trusted you all those years ago, or at the very least, I should have confronted you on it. And more than that, I shouldn’t have given you such a hard time when you were trying. I wish I wasn’t like this. I wish I could trust more easily, but I want you to know that of all the people in this world, I trust you the most. And I promise to do all that I can to show you that you mean everything to me. That I was made for you, as you were for me. That it’s always been us. Even when it wasn’t. I love you.”

Luke stares at me, his eyes full of emotion as he lightly grips my chin, lifting my face until I’m looking him in the eyes. He brushes his thumb across my check, collecting my tears as hisown eyes water. “We’re going to be okay. This is going to work out, isn’t it?”

I smile as my heart soars. For the first time since I was eleven, I have a home. “Yeah. I think it is. Things may be uncertain, and fast, and chaotic but they’ll be wonderful. How can they not be when we have Juliet?”

“She turned our world upside down and threw us into situations we were not prepared for. Situations I never thought I’d want to be in. But I’ve loved every second of it.” My chest tightens as all of Luke’s love reflects in his expression while he stares down at Juliet, and when his gaze meets mine again, my heart hammers in my chest, threatening to break out. “She’s our beautiful storm,” he adds with an adoring smile. “And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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