Page 112 of Icing Hearts

“Wait.”

Slowly, he turns, eyes full of something like hope and disbelief. His eyebrows tick up ever so slightly—questioning.

“One more?” I ask.

Chapter 68

Victory

Hope blooms wildly in my chest, and I can’t stop the tears that gather in the corners of my eyes.

“What did you say?” I ask her.

“I forgive you.”

“I love you, Clara. From the moment you were tackled in flag football, I have loved you. Maybe not love in the true and adult sense. But at every stage of life, I have loved you in the capacity I was able to at the time. My love was far more innocent back then. It’s much more nefarious and selfish and consuming now. Please love me back.”

“I know. I—I love you, Tory. I love you,” she breathes.

I kiss her with fervor. “Say it again.”

She does and I kiss her more, eating up her words with my mouth, feeling the way her lips form the phrase with my own.

“Love is supposed to be this great thing. But anyone who thinks that has never experienced unrequited love. It’s like being poisoned, for years, at an excruciatingly slow and painful pace.”

“You’re so romantic.”

“You jest in light of my agony?”

“I’m sorry. Force of habit. I trained myself to let your words roll off me.”

“Every night, just before sleep takes me, I wish to go back. To face the music from the jump. I’m sorry, Clara. I look forward to making it up to you.”

“So do I. Starting with some much-needed groveling.”

“What do you require of me?”

“I believe groveling begins a bit further south.”

“On my knees for you is the furthest thing from a punishment. But if you insist.” I drop to one knee right here in the middle of the dance floor. “Actually, since I’m down here already. You need to know that I don’t want to be your boyfriend. I want everything. Every part of you.”

“Me too, Tory.”

Chapter 69

Clara

Graduation was sad for a lot of people. I wasn’t one of them. I will miss Clover, especially because she’ll be moving to Miami in a couple weeks. She’s going to UMiami and doesn’t want to miss summer at the beach. Can’t say that I blame her.

And Vince? Well, Vince is Vince. In the fall, he’ll be playing college hockey. After that, if he keeps improving, Tory says he has a real shot at the NHL. I hope he makes it. Overall, he’s happy with his former ex, now current, girlfriend, and I’m happy with Tory. I’m happy for him, and he’s happy for me. We’re all just sickeningly happy.

And content.

Jack’s not super happy because he shot his shot with Clover after their little hand-holding flirtation at prom, and it didn’t work out. At least not the way he wanted it to. Jack is a relationship guy, and Clover isn’t interested right now.

Poor Jacky.

Now that Tory and I are officially together, my brand new car sits in the driveway 90 percent of the time because I like to ride in Tory’s car. He’s a nice driver. Never gets mad in traffic. No road rage. Let’s me pick the music and drive with the window down. He sings, too. His voice is really nice. So far, the only thing he’s bad at is drawing.

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