Page 105 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

“What is all of this?” she whispers.

“I got bingo.”

“I know, but…what…what does this all mean?”

“I love you.”

I just blurt it out.

Word-vomit it all over her.

No finesse, no buildup. Just lay it all out there.

Those damn olive green eyes spark with surprise. “You…love me?”

I nod. “So fucking much. Achingly so.”

“Sutton…”

I take another step closer. Needing desperately to touch her, I fit my hand around her waist and cup her cheek with the other.

She doesn’t pull away.

No.

She melts into me instead, leaning into my touch.

“I love you, Holland, and I think I have always loved you. Back in high school when we’d compete constantly, I think I did it just so I had an excuse to be near you all the time. And that summer we spent making out? Fuck, it was my favorite summer ever.”

I drag my nose along her cheek, inhaling the sweet smell I’ve missed so much.

“Then later, after college, when we started spending time together at those stuffy events, I was starting to realize just how much you meant to me, just how much I liked being with you. And I got scared. I got scared that I had feelings for you and you didn’t feel the same way back. That you just wanted me for my name like everyone I’d ever loved did. I panicked and I hurt you and I’m so fucking sorry.”

“I—”

“And when I saw you at the diner after my life imploded, suddenly everything felt like it would be okay. LikeIwould be okay. Even when I wanted to hate you, I still loved you. And I was still fucking scared because I had no idea what to do with it. Then, when we…when I kissed you again, I knew. I knew I had to have you no matter the cost.”

She swallows, and, unable to stop myself, I place a kiss on her cheek. Her eyelids flutter shut and she shivers.

“I was stupid, Holland. I was stupid because I knew you held my heart in your hands and I knew you had this power to own me, but I was done with people having control over me. I didn’t realize I was wrong, though. I didn’t realize giving you that control wasn’t a bad thing. It was freedom.You’remy freedom.You’rewhat I’ve been searching for.”

She’s trembling beneath my touch, and I can only hope it’s my words shaking her to her core.

“I love you, Holland,” I tell her, looking into her eyes. “I have always loved you, and I think I always will.”

She doesn’t say anything.

She doesn’t say anything, and I die slowly as the seconds tick by because they feel like minutes…hours.

“Just think?” Her lips twitch. “Because I know I love you.”

“Yeah?”

She nods.

“Jesus!” someone yells. “Will you kiss the woman already? I’m getting blue balls just watching this scene!”

Holland laughs, and I catch the sound with my lips.

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