Page 91 of Unsure in Love

When she disappeared, I chuckled. “Please, forgive my sister’s weird behavior. You should have seen the way they all reacted when Lucy announced her pregnancy.”

I frowned at the mention of my older sister because I was reminded of how harmful my other secret could be to her. She’d hate that I reached out to Dad. I just knew it. Guilt clawed at my throat, making it hard to breathe.

“Hey, are you okay?” Damian asked.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Fine.” He didn’t look convinced, so I grabbed the bag Tessa brought and smiled. “You’ve been saved. You won’t have to suffer through a meal I prepared.”

One corner of his mouth kicked up. “I don’t care how awful your cooking is.”

I snorted.

He grinned. “It’s the thought and effort that counts.”

Heat flooded my face at the way he looked at me with blatant affection. “Let’s eat. I’m starving,” I said.

When we settled in the kitchen, I caught Damian staring at me. “What?”

“We haven’t discussed when we’re going to see Nic.”

I kept unloading Tessa’s bag of goodies. “Are you in a rush?”

“I can’t hide out in your apartment. This is a small town. He’s bound to find out I’m here.”

I gulped. “True, but let me talk to him first, please.”

Damian frowned. “Not that our relationship has anything to do with him, but I’ll talk to him.”

“Nic has been a part of my life since I was a kid. I know he doesn’t have a say about us, but for me, it’s a respect thing.”

He sighed. “I get it.”

“So let me speak with him first, okay?” I averted my gaze. “Besides, I want at least one day alone with you before my entire family finds out about us. They mean well, but they can get intrusive.”

He walked over and lifted my chin with a finger to plant a kiss on my lips. “Okay.”

I smiled. That little gesture was enough to push away much of my worry. When he pulled away, it hit me how amazingly patient he’d been with me. He deserved to know the full extent of my feelings for him. Before he pulled out his stool, I snagged his wrist. He turned back to gaze at me questioningly.

“Damian…” I took a deep breath. “I tried to tell you earlier but…” I could practically feel the heat scalding my face. “I chickened out.”

He tilted his head. “You don’t have to be afraid to tell me anything.”

Holding his gaze, I smiled. “I know. You’ve shown me over and over how committed to us you are, and I’m grateful. I’ve never felt this safe with anyone…” Shoving back the usual apprehension that tried to make its ways to the surface, I breathed, “I love you, Damian.”

He stayed frozen for a moment, his eyes glued to my face as if taking in every nuance of my expression… or as if he couldn’t believe I’d actually said the words. Then a slow smile lit up his face. All he said was, “And I love you, Cassandra.” It was like he’d already figured out how I felt about him before my big announcement.

I pursed my lips, knowing that I was probably blushing profusely. His admission of love had my heart dancing. “I don’t want you to think I’m hiding us… you from my family. It’s just that I want to tell them everything when the time is right. When we’re all together. So…”

“You want me to go home and give you that chance?” he finished.

My gaze snapped back up to meet his gaze. He had to be the most perceptive person ever. “Are you upset?”

His lips twisted into a soft smile. “Just that I won’t be here to give you emotional support. But I get it. I’ll give you time and space to do what you have to.” He cupped one side of my face, caressed my cheek with his thumb, and leaned in to brush my lips with his. “Anything you need, dulzura.”

And that was when I tumbled deeper into the love with the perfect man for me.

34

CASS

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