Page 153 of Late Fees

“You are,” he said with a chuckle as we approached the empty park. When we reached the bench, Wyatt placed everything that was in our arms down on the wrought iron slats and took both of my hands in his. “You could never be pepperoni and red sauce, Tilly.”

“Wyatt,” I said, my eyebrows drawing together in an agonized expression, remembering the pain I’d felt when I wrote those words in my journal.

“There’s nothing wrong with that combination, but it’s simple…basic. You could never be basic. Not even if you tried.”

“Because I’m a royal pain in the ass?” I asked, only half-joking.

Amusement flickered in his cloudy eyes. “You’re complicated, yes. But you’re worth it. So, so worth it.”

I stared at him in wonder. “And you amaze me.”

“I read everything you sent me,” he said. “Every last word.”

“That’s such a relief. I was worried that you had tossed them in the garbage. That’s what I would have deserved, anyway.”

“I was tempted, but you know I could never do that. If you have something to say to me, I always want to hear it. No matter how angry or upset I might be. You’re too important to ever be ignored.”

I closed my eyes tight; grief and regret tore at my heart. “I’m so sorry that I couldn’t do the same for you.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Till.”

I managed a tremulous smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “I know you didn’t, but still—I don’t understand how you can forgive me so easily after everything…I ignored you and shut you out. And you just said yourself that you could never do that to me.”

“We’re different people, and we react differently to pain. I can’t punish you for that,” he said, shaking his head fervently. “You were hurt and scared, and, honestly, who was I to put timelines or demands on you? You warned me that first night at the coffee shop that letting me back in would be hard for you, and you weren’t sure that you could even do it. And what did I say?’

“You told me you’d wait forever.”

“And I meant it. I’m so sorry I lost sight of that when you told me about the letters. I should’ve been more patient with you, Till.”

“That’s not true. You were so patient.” I shook my head.

“No, I was angry and stubborn.”

“Ahem,” I said dramatically. “You’re talking to the Queen of Stubborn. You’d better recognize.”

“Yeah, maybe I am,” he said, kissing my forehead. “Listen, I can’t change the past—or how I handled things back in high school…or the other day at your apartment. I wish I could, but I can’t.”

“Neither can I,” I said, taking his hand. “And I don’t want to change any of it.”

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You don’t?”

I shook my head. “I’m starting to realize that our past, and everything that comes with it, will only make us stronger if we let it.”

“Do you mean that?”

I nodded emphatically, taking in a sharp breath. “And I’m tired of pretending that I’m over what happened or that I don’t need you in my life. Because I do. I need you desperately.”

His shoulders relaxed, and his eyes widened in relief. “I need you, too. I’m not the same without you, Tilly.”

Pulling me into his arms, Wyatt placed his hands on my cheeks, and his lips came coaxingly down on mine. I fell into his embrace, melting into him as the touch of his lips sent waves of desire through my entire body. His lips were warm and sweet, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so safe yet so impassioned.

I pulled away, placed my hands on his shoulders, and looked him dead in the eye, my tears blinding my eyes and choking my voice.

“I’m madly in love with you, Wyatt. I always have been. And I never want to be without you again. My stubborn heart can’t survive without yours.”

He stared at me in awe, swallowing hard. Releasing my backpack from my shoulder, I unzipped it and pulled out Wyatt’s semester project. I held it in my hands as I looked up at him. “And whether you’re in Norway or Los Angeles or the freaking Arctic Circle…we’ll always find each other…just like Matilda the Magic.”

“Did you really read the whole thing?”

---