Page 128 of Catching Feelings

“No, I’m not.” I protest, then laugh nervously. “Okay, I probablyambeing ridiculous. But, like, you don’tgetit. You’re this...perfect person. You’re humble and smart and funny—you laugh at my jokes, and that’s a gift—and you have a heroic career. And I get to call you mine. Me. The idiot football player.”

She rolls her eyes and nudges me with her elbow, her lips curling into a smile. “I’m not a hero. I’m a pediatric nurse. And you’re not an idiot. You’re Miles. And I loveyou—all of you. The goofy, the awkward, the ball-throwing, middle school humor. You’re perfect for me.”

I swallow hard, my heart skipping a beat. “You’re...you’re sure about that?” I ask, trying to hide the vulnerability that is suddenly creeping up on me.

She picks her feet off my lap and crawls to me, her voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t get to say you’re not good enough for me. I’m the lucky one here.”

I snort, my chest tight. “Rowan, youdoget how much you mean to me, right? Because you...you are everything to me. I don’t know how to explain it, but when I’m with you, I feel like I’mhome. And I’m, like,reallybad at being serious. But I love you. So much. It’s ridiculous.”

She chuckles softly, her voice teasing but warm. “If this is you being bad at being serious, I think you’ve got a long career ahead of you.”

I laugh, the nervous energy in me turning into something more comfortable. “Here’s another try at being serious. Move in with me.” I take her hands in mine and pull her onto my lap so she’s straddling me. “Or I can move in with you. It doesn’t matter, as long as I’m with you.”

Rowan curls her bottom lip between her teeth and blinks the moisture from her eyes. “My apartment’s so small,” she whispers.

I swipe the lone tear away and press my lips to hers. “Good. I want you close to me. Always.”

“Miles.” She plays with the strings to my sweatshirt.

“You’re probably thinking this is too fast, but I’m holding back on asking you to be mine forever and ever until death do us part only because I don’t want to freak you the fuck out.”

“What?” Her chocolate eyes search mine, and it’s not fear I see but surprise, wonder, and love.

“Why do wedding vows sound so morbid? We’ll write our own. Unless you’re afraid I’d embarrass you in front of our friends and family. I promise I’ll write them out and rehearse from now until we say I do.”

“I do?”

“I do too, baby.” I kiss her hard, my tongue finding warmth in her mouth. “We’ll make it official when you’re ready. We can start with us moving in together. We can find a place together if you don’t like it here.”

I haven’t given her a chance to process or even agree. I’m afraid if I give her too much time to think she’ll say it’s too soon. That she likes having her personal space. That she’s not ready for this kind of commitment.

Rowan glides her hands along my shoulders then up my neck, cupping the back of my head.

“I wake up early for work. Will my alarm disturb you?”

“Mm,” I moan into our kiss. “As long as you wake me up with your mouth. I can always go back to sleep after you leave.”

She pulls at my hair and tips my head back. “Brat.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Of course it’s a yes. It’s always a yes when it comes to you, Miles.”

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