Page 242 of Accidental Husband
"He was part of your life for a long time. I respect that. I just… fuck, I'm not good at this."
"Me either."
"Can I start over?"
"Okay." I bite my tongue so I won't blurt out every thought in my head. "But, um, we're probably gonna be late."
"I know." He moves closer.
I step backward, moving with him.
He presses the door into the frame. So it's just us in my high school bedroom. The place we've been a million times. The place that felt like home.
My world. The one I invited him into. I want to do that again.
I just have to…
I have to say it.
And soon.
His fingers skim my temple. "I love you."
"What?"
"I'm in love with you."
My heart pounds against my chest. "You are?"
"Yeah. I have been. For a long time. But I didn't see it until recently."
I try to come up with some response, but my mouth is too sticky. I barely manage a nod.
"I've seen it for a few days now. But I couldn't face that word. It was too loaded. Too much like my parents. Like everything wrong with the world. I couldn't get over the idea that love was this word grown-ups invented as an excuse to hurt each other."
"Maybe it is."
"Maybe. But it's something else too. It's the only way to explain how I feel about you. When you smile, I get warm all over. Like I'm at the beach on a summer day, coming out of the water. The ocean is cold, too cold, but with the sun on my skin, I'm the perfect temperature."
I stare into his eyes.
"It's like the taste of a really great cup of coffee when I'm dead tired. Or the comfort of my favorite song. Which is still the one that played in the limo."
My cheeks flush. "Me too."
"I want the best for you, no matter what. No matter how badly it hurts me. And I'd gladly die for you, because I'd rather die than live in a world without you."
"Griff—"
"I want you to soar, no matter what. I could never clip your wings. Ever. So if you want to end this marriage, if you want a divorce, I can do that. I won't be happy about it, but I'll do it."
I shake my head. "No, I…" A tear wells up in my eyes. Then I blink and my vision is blurry. "Griff, I… I love you too."
"Yeah?" His voice perks.
"So much."
"We don't have to—"
