“I miss you too,” I say, my throat tightening. Fuck, I hate that he’s going through this without me. I wish more than anything I could be there to support him.
“Give Hope a hug for me.”
“I will. She misses you too.”
“I miss you, Bear!” Hope calls out from the backseat.
“I miss you too, little one. Be good for your mommy,” he tells her when I hold out the phone for her to hear.
“I will,” she calls out cheerfully.
“It’s time to board. I’ll call you when I land.”
“Okay,” I sigh and start up my car. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Max grunts in agreement.
“I love you,” just pops out of my mouth.
I can hear the intake of his breath just as I realize what I just said.
“I gotta go. Bye!” I rush out and hang up, my heart racing a mile a minute. Setting my phone down in my lap it starts ringing again.
Fuck, did I seriously just say that?
With what he’s going through I can’t just ignore him, but I’m so not ready to talk about what I let slip. Picking up my phone I send him a quick text telling him I’ll call him later.
I hold my breath waiting for him to respond before I pull out.
I love you too, he texts back.
The breath just whooshes out of me, and despite all the terrible shit that’s going on I’m smiling the entire drive to Carson’s.
* * *
After dropping off Hope, my weekend is long and lonely. All I do is work, talk to Mandy on the phone and of course talk to Max.
Our first phone call is a little awkward though.
“So… you love me, huh?” Is the first thing out of his mouth when I answer his call.
My throat tightens and my heart thuds behind my ribs.
“Yeah, I think I do…”
With both him and Hope gone, I’ve had the whole day to think about it. And even though we’ve only been seeing each other for about a month now, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with the big hairy guy. I’m totally crazy about him, in fact.
“You think you do?” he asks, getting that growl to his voice that drives me wild.
“Yeah… well…” I stammer and have to stop to swallow down the lump forming in my throat.
I’m crazy nervous about this. I’ve never told a guy I loved him before. Max is the first. And I didn’t even do it intentionally, I didn’t even realize it until I said it. It just kind of popped out of my mouth on its own like it was totally natural.
But I do love him. I know it’s right. I feel it pumping in the quick beat of my heart. I feel it warming in the very marrow of my bones.
Ever since I’ve met Max, he’s filled my life with joy and orgasms.
Seriously, how could I not love the guy?