Page 81 of At the Edge with You

She scoffs. “That totally goes against what Smokey Bear taught us.”

I chuckle as I squeeze her into me. “I’d take on that bear if you want this forest gone.”

She leans her head into mine. “It’s okay. No reason to ruin something so beautiful.”

“Eh, it doesn’t measure up to you in my eyes.”

“Jett,” she breathes. “I’m sorry. I know they’re terrible.”

“I don’t care about them.”

“I hate how they talk about you.”

“They don’t matter.”

“Still, you don’t deserve that.” She turns in my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck. “This is why I didn’t want to come home. They make me so mad, and we live in such a small town. They’ll always be around, and it makes me crazy. I’ll never live up to what they want, and I’m so tired of trying.”

“Don’t,” I tell her without hesitation. “You don’t have to live up to anyone but yourself.” Her lip wobbles as she holds my gaze. My heart is in my throat, pounding hard, but I’ve got to make this dream I have for her and me a reality. “Can I ask you something?”

My voice rings with emotion, loudly, and I’m sure that’s why her eyes widen. “Of course.”

I roll my lips, suddenly nervous. Her eyes stay locked with mine, and I love how much she needs eye contact. It’s like she has to stare into your soul to feel comfortable, and I want that for her, so I never let my gaze stray. My voice is shaky as I practically beg, “Stay.”

She blinks, her brows knitting as she gazes into my eyes. “Stay? I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

I swallow, shaking my head. “No, stay in Thistlebrook after the year is up.” Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t look away. Her fingers curve into the lapels of my jacket, and I grip her hips. “I don’t want to run it without you. I want it to be ours. Fifty-fifty, you and me. I already lost you once, Fable. Please don’t make history repeat itself.”

Her lips part, deep emotion swirling in her eyes. It’s like an old-time movie reel, each emotion flickering one after another. Fear, excitement, joy, disbelief, and then love. “But what if we break up?”

I shake my head. “We won’t,” I promise, bringing her in closer. “Fable, I love you.”

I planned on that being a little more romantic, but I can’t hold these feelings in anymore. Not with how she’s looking at me. So unsure, as if my future doesn’t need her in it. Tears gather in her eyes as she inhales sharply. “You love me?”

“I’ve only ever loved you.”

“Really?”

My lips curve up in a smirk. “Really. It’s you, Fable, and I’ve always known that. Now that I’ve got you back, I won’t let go without a fight. Stay, run the Thistle with me. Argue about the budget, skate with me even when we don’t have to—but, above all, love me.”

A tear spills over, and I watch it run down her cheek. Her gaze ping-pongs between my eyes, and I worry she’s about to reject me. My heart is so loud, I can hardly hear anything but the blood rushing in my ears. When she gets a blank look on her face, my stomach clenches. She’s zoning out, getting lost in her head. I squeeze her hips. “Princess, in sync with me?”

Her eyes flash with awareness, and then she nods. “Always.” She holds my gaze as she glides her fingers along my lips. “I was just thinking that I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you when I was seventeen.”

I feel like my heart has come out of my chest and is fighting to get through her rib cage to hers. “It was when we were at Worlds, and we had the worst warm-up, but you looked at me with this look that I didn’t understand. Even knowing none of our skating mattered to you, that it was more for me, you still fought for me. But you looked at me and said, no matter what, you were proud of me. No one had ever said that to me but Kitty.”

Emotion suffocates me as I lean in, bringing her closer. “Fable, I’ll always be proud of you.”

Another tear falls as she brushes her thumb along my bottom lip. “And I’ll always love you.” I let out the breath I was holding, and she smiles brightly at me. “I’m wherever you are, pretty boy.”

I lift her in my arms, spinning her around like we’re a couple from a Disney movie, loving how she squeals and giggles as she beams down at me, pure joy in her eyes. I lower her to her feet and capture her cheeks in my hands.

“I love you,” I breathe against her lips, my eyes burning just for hers.

“I love you,” she promises, her heart in her eyes, leaving me breathless. I let out a long, contented sigh before crashing my mouth to hers.

Our kiss is hot, needy, and everything I need.

Just as she is.

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