His finger stroked my chin, forcing it up so I looked at him, and I saw the last thing I expected.
A smirk to rival mine. Full of arrogance and an emotion I was too scared to hope for.
“Tomorrow, there’s a special marathon on the best hidden cities in Russia and Europe. I figured we could order food, curl up on the couch, and pick our favorites.”
Euphoria slammed into me. More than I ever thought possible.
One of my favorite experiences abroad was when I had woken up early in Scotland and climbed the highest mountain in the UK. I’d struggled and thought about going back at least a hundred times. But the happiness I felt at the top—feeling beyond lucky when the rain stopped, and the sun peeked out. It was like the clouds parted just for me.
That feeling had nothing on what Will’s words did to me.
I thought I’d float off the bed. My heart, where moments ago tried to crumble in on itself, grew to almost bursting. Nothing could stop the smile that took over.
His thumb traced my lips, and he smiled like the skies parted just for him too. “I love it when you smile. It’s so rare to get more than a smirk that it makes it all the more special.”
Wrapping my lips around the tip, I kissed him and rubbed my cheek like a cat against his palm.
He went to stand again, and I gripped his wrist one more time, sitting up.
I couldn’t hold it back anymore, and if for some reason he went into the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror and saw a reason to come back with another answer, I needed to say it now.
He turned to me with furrowed brows, and I clung to him, terrified he’d pull back but more terrified he’d never know.
“I’m falling in love with you.”
His smile slowly grew with hesitance.
“I know it comes with a million strings attached, but I don’t care. Call me immature or selfish or childish. I don’t care, Will. I’m falling for you, and I do know that I’ve never felt this before, and I don’t want to hide it. And I know that love is hard and that if we want it enough, we can make it work.”
“Fuck,” he muttered, finally just stripping the condom and dropping it on the hardwood floor. “I’ll clean it later.” With that, he climbed back in bed and pulled me into his arms, holding me tight.
I climbed on his lap, wrapping around him. This was how we showed our love. This was how we showed how much we cared. By holding on tight and comforting in a way no one else ever had.
Even if he didn’t say it back, I had this. He hadn’t called a stop to everything at my proclamation, and I’d take it. As long as he didn’t leave my side, we could grow from there—together.
He pulled back, pushing my hair back from my still damp forehead, his eyes bouncing all around my face like he didn’t know where to look first. Finally, he settled on my eyes, stroking my cheek.
“I’m falling in love with you too.”
This time when tears came, I let them fall, too happy to bother stopping them. He huffed a laugh and brushed them aside. “I’ve never said it to anyone, but I didn’t expect you to cry at my proclamation,” he teased.
“I’m just so happy, I don’t know what to do with it.”
“I have a few ideas.”
He kissed me again, but only for a bit.
“We have to hide it at school. At least until the semester is over. No more teasing.”
I rolled my eyes in jest. “Fine. But I guess I should let you know I dropped your class yesterday. I spoke to my counselor, and we both agreed economics wasn’t in my plan. Even if the professor is.”
His proud smile washed over me. “Good. Although you’re missing out. Economics is the best.”
Another eye roll had him laughing.
“Your dad…” he started.
“Will have to understand. He’s important to both of us, and I know he’s your family. But I’m your family now, too, and I promise to stand by you no matter what.”
“I promise to stand by you too.”
Any more happiness, and I was sure I’d burst like a balloon any second if I didn’t give some of it to him. I rocked in his lap, kissing and biting along his jaw, my teeth scraping against his scruff.
He groaned, but gripped my ass, pulling me closer. “I need to eat and refuel.”
“We will. I just want to kiss you. Just for a little while.”
And just like when all this started, we made the promise, both of us knowing it was a lie.
We were so much more than just a little while.
Willem
Epilogue
4 Years Later
“Arabella Colins.”
I watched proudly from my seat as she crossed the stage, her trademark smirk fully in place. She held it there, up until she shook hands with the school president, and shouts and applause broke out in small cells around the ceremony. Shouts from further away from her mom and dad, and high-pitched whistles and catcalls from her friends in the mix of students.