Page 68 of Accidentally Yours
He walked to her, slow and sure, the noise around them fading to nothing. “I read your comments, and I had to come here,” he said, stopping before her. “I couldn’t wait until tonight to tell you what I really think of you.”
“Oh?” Her breath hitched as he stared straight into her soul. “And what is that?”
Ethan lowered his voice, enough that the entire room leaned in to hear. “That you’re my adventure, Paige.”
His words hit her like a wave, dousing her heart in the swell.
“I’ve been chasing adventure—travel, reality TV, fame—thinking that’s what I needed to feel alive,” he said softly. “And then I met you, and I found that same excitement and adrenaline in every tiny moment we shared. Fighting over comma placement. Watching you snort when you laugh at your own jokes.” His eyes glimmered and her heart set on fire. “I feel alive sitting next to you on the train, sharing a cup of coffee and watching the sunrise, walking together on a crowded sidewalk. We may have started off pretending to be in love, but there’s nothing fake about how I feel about you now.”
“Did you say you’re falling for me too?” Paige asked, straight from the bottom of her gut, sincerely hoping she got the answer she wanted.
“I’m not just falling.” He paused, his voice rough with emotion. “I feel like someone pushed me off a bridge.”
A laugh broke through her. “You do?”
“Paige, I’m in love with you. With your fire and spunk and everything that you are. You’re my adventure. My treasure.”
Soo-mi appeared beside them like magic, gently taking the flowers and gift bag out of Ethan’s hands. “I’ll take those,” she said, and melted back into the crowd.
Ethan took hold of Paige’s hands. “I found the necklace,” he said, his voice thick.
Paige gasped. “What?”
He nodded. “It was hidden in a clock in Mimi’s room.”
“That’s amazing,” she breathed. “I’m so glad.”
His grip tightened around hers. “But when I found it, I still felt this hole in my chest. Because you weren’t there. I wanted to find it with you.”
Everything inside her stilled. She curled her fingers into his, unable to explain what that meant to her . . .everything. It meant everything.
“I want you beside me for all of it,” Ethan added, stepping closer, so their toes nearly touched. “Not just the treasure hunts and the writing and the big moments. I want the normal stuff too. The coffee refills, grocery store runs, socks on the floor. The real-life stuff.” He paused. “I want a future with you.”
The entire room went silent, breathless. Paige started nodding, wanting to scream outYes!
“I know you move slow, Paige. That you need time to trust and to process. That you don’t open up easily and you guard your heart. But I’ll wait for you. As long as it takes. I’m okay if you don’t say a thing back to me today. I just need you to know that I’m here and I’ll be waiting for when you’re ready to let me love you.”
Paige’s eyes suddenly stung—a foreign feeling because crying wasn’t her style. But she couldn’t help it. This man had broken her open, piece by piece, and in the best way. And she wanted a life with him too. Vision blurring, a tear slipped over her cheek. Ethan reached up and wiped it away with his thumb, letting his hand linger, his palm warm against her face.
She shook her head, breaking free the words that were stuck in her throat. Then she stepped forward, ready to let her feelings loose. She launched herself at Ethan, and he caught her with a soft grunt, solid arms wrapping around her waist.
“I want you to love me,” she whispered into his neck. “Because I love you too.”
Ethan squeezed her tight and kissed her cheek. She could feel his smile through his kiss and confirmed his happiness when she pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. His blue eyes were dancing.
“Say it again,” he murmured.
She smiled, a tear-streaked laugh spilling out of her. “I love you.”
Ethan set his forehead against hers, holding her tight as he whispered, “Have I told you how beautiful you are today?”
Her stomach somersaulted. Their code. Their kiss cue.
She smiled, nodding. “Kiss me, Cole.”
And he did—right there in the middle of her parents’ house, in front of her family, her ex, the entire neighborhood, and her grandma—who raised a glass and shouted, “Finally!”
The room erupted around them, but Paige didn’t hear it.
