Page 265 of Hooking Up
"I wanted to tell you."
"I know. And I stopped you. I knew it was something big, and I stopped you."
I nod.
"I wanted to believe there was nothing ugly in your past. That you didn't have any baggage or ugly parts or secrets. I wanted to believe it didn't matter. That I was over everything with Bree. But I wasn't. I'm not. I'm not gonna lie to you, Iris. It's gonna be hard for me at first. I'm gonna be terrified you'll slip."
"I worry too."
"I'm gonna go out of my fucking mind every time I'm not sure what you're thinking or where you are. But I'm going to get over it. It's gonna take a long time, but I am going to get over it."
"Okay." I press my palm against his chest. "I have to figure it out too. How to be honest with someone. How to share the ugly things."
"I want to be there to help you."
"I want you to be there."
His fingers dig into my hair. "I love you, Iris Avery."
"I love you too."
He pulls me closer.
And he kisses me like he's sure I'm his.
I am.
And he's mine.
And it really is perfect.
