Page 94 of Recklessly You
“Just like you,” he whispers.
He waves me over to follow him to his detached garage.
“I want to show you my dad’s truck.”
I trail behind him, my eyes on his ass. He opens the garage, and my eyes widen. It’s gorgeous. It’s painted ocean blue.
“Ask me?” Liam implores, his gaze fixed on mine. His voice is barely a whisper, full of vulnerability. His gaze overflows with vulnerability, too, making a desperate plea without words. He steps closer to me, and I can feel the memory of his breath on my skin.
“What?” My voice comes out barely above a whisper.
“Ask me if I’ve been in love. Ask me if I’ve ever had a girlfriend?”
I remember asking him this months ago, what feels like years…before we slept together. My forehead creases. Why is he asking? Could he have lied and fallen in love with someone before me?
“Have you been in love? Have you had a girlfriend?”
“I have.” His thumb brushes my cheek. “I’m in love withyou, Sophie.I’m hopelessly, recklessly in love with you.I had a girlfriend. She was my first. I was too dumb and fucked in the head to open my eyes and see what was in front of me. I pushed her away because I thought I was saving her. Only then did I realize I went and fucked it up and lost her. I lost the one woman who loved me, saw me at my worst, and still loved me. I painted my dad’s truck ocean blue, like the color of the eyes of the woman I’m in love with.”
My chin trembles, and I start to cry. His thumb brushes my tears away.
“I’m sorry, Sophie. I’m sorry I hurt you. I never meant those horrible words. You’re not some quick fuck. You mean so much more, baby. You mean everything to me—you’re my light in my darkness, the key to my locked heart. My woman. Mine. Your mine.”
I’m speechless. I wasn’t expecting this…his confession. He…he loves me. I don’t know how to wrap my head around it.
“You…you didn’t want to see me at the hospital,” I hiccup, tears coming fast now.
He brushes them away. “Oh, mi bella, I wanted to see you, but not when I was all fucked up on painkillers. I wanted to be clear-headed when I confessed my feelings for you.”
I nod.
He pulls a brown leather notebook from the back pocket of his jeans.
“This is the journal my therapist gave me when I was ten. He said for me to write about the most important people in my life, I met along the way. I haven’t met anyone worth putting in my journal besides my family, Dominic, and his brothers. I hadn’t met anyone—up until I met you. Read it. I have been writing in it since the day I met you.”
I take the journal from his hands and inhale—a sweet, musty rich aroma of aged leather. I trace my finger over frayed edges and ink smudges on the corner of each page. “Are you sure you want me to read it?”
“Please,” he says.
I open it and read. Each word pumps new blood through me, bringing my heart back to life.
* * *
Sophie, the woman who will have all my firsts.
I’ve never met a woman who so completely put a spell on me. Who has made me feel things I’ve never felt before. She’s beautiful. I can’t stop thinking about her. I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want her. She was my first kiss, the kiss that made me want no one else. My lips, my kisses, belong to her only.
I have given her all my firsts that matter.
First kiss, first time holding hands, cuddling, waking up with someone in my arms, first to come over to my house, first to live with me, shower with, first time doing anal, first dance, first girlfriend, first one to make love to. First one to fall in love with.
I’m positive I fell in love with her the minute our lips touched. It took me a long time to figure it out. First one to have my heart. The only woman I want. I hope she will give me many more firsts in our lifetime.
I turnmy gaze back to him, and he lowers his head, looking into my eyes. My heart races, and it’s hard to breathe. He wrote all of this in his journal because he loves me.
“You…you love me?” I stutter.
Liam steps closer and cups my cheeks, his thumb caressing my flesh. Apparently, I’m still in shock.
