Page 36 of A Very Grumpy Neighbor
“I love you.”
“Mistake again?”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t a mistake the first time.”
I never thought I would tell anyone I loved them, and I certainly never dreamed it would go like this.
“I’m sorry, Jade. So sorry. I do trust you.”
She shifts on her feet and tucks her dark brown hair behind her ear.
“I’m not used to sharing…anything, but I want to try. With you. Only with you.”
“Are you sure?” she asks softly. “If this is going too much for you, I don’t think we should continue. Maybe we’re just too different.”
“We are, but that’s a good thing. I want you, Jade. Only you. There’s never been…there’s no one else. Never will be.”
“You can’t know that.”
“I can. I never wanted to be with anyone before you. I never wanted to try. Not until you.”
She studies me, and I hold my breath.
“Can you give me another chance? Let me prove it to you.”
A slight smile curves her lips as she crosses her arms over her ample chest. “How?”
“I’ll talk to you.”
“Hmm.”
“I’ll tell you how I feel. I’ve already started.”
“Have you?”
“I’ve told you I love you now twice.”
“Not really. Saying it was a mistake the first time cancels out the second time you said it.”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t a mistake. I never said it was. It counts.”
“Mmm, more like one and a half.”
“Fine. Here’s the second time.” I step closer. “Jade, I love you.”
“And you’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“Good.”
“Yeah?”
She smiles. “Yeah, because I love you, too.”
“Thank fuck.”
I don’t wait. Backing her through the door, I kick it closed behind me. I grab her—one hand sliding around her back, the other tangling in her hair—and slam my mouth down on hers.
