“Okay.”
“Because I want that connection with you,” I tell him, breathless. “Iwantall the connections with you. I want to be so connected to you that no one, not even you, could ever tear us apart. Because you did that. You tore us apart. So many times, Reign. Forso many years.”
Finally, he brings his hands up and frames my face. “I won’t. I promise.”
So I stand there like that, staring into his eyes, barely breathing, barely holding it together.
Barely being able to comprehend that this is real.
That he really loves me.
No, he doesn’t actually.
He feels more for me than the word ‘love’ could ever explain or describe.
“You know, you don’t need to do all those things for me,” I tell him next. “Everything that you just said. I don’t need them from you.”
“I know.” His lips tip up in a small lopsided smile. “But I’ll give them to you anyway.”
I bite my lip. “What color is it? My dress.”
He keeps staring into my eyes. “Fuchsia.”
I shake my head. “I can’t believe you know that.”
“Couldn’t sleep that night. So that’s what I did. Counted pinks.”
I clench my eyes shut. “God, Reign.”
He comes closer too.
Until we’re grazing against each other.
“So will you,” he asks, “be my girlfriend?”
I open my eyes and whisper, “Yes.”
It’s a simple word.
After all the beautiful and heartfelt words that he’s said. After how he created poetry for me.
But I guess it’s enough for him.
Because he shudders.
His forehead drops over mine. Then, “I meant what I said, Echo. Imeantit. I’ll believe, okay? I’ll be a good boyfriend to you. I promise. I’ll fix everything. I’ll… And I know there’s a lot that I need to fix. From last night. I didn’t protect you. And God, I… I fucked you in the ass, baby. And then I didn’t stick around to make sure you were okay. And even before that, I used you for sex. I —”
“We’re even.”
“What?”
I bring my hands up to his rigid jaw. “I lied to you. I kept secrets from you. And a girlfriend doesn’t do that. I texted him behind your back and I’m so sorry. And then I attacked him. So we’re even now. And you didn’t use me for sex. That was love, remember?”
“Love.”
“Yeah.” Then, “And also, I took the pills.”
“You did.”