Page 135 of That Last Secret

“I think I might stay right here when you leave. This weather is the perfect sleeping weather and I, for once, don’t have any anxiety about school work I need to be doing.”

“You deserve it, Em.”

This feels good—too good—the mindless morning banter after waking up to the most beautiful woman. I wish my head would stop fighting me in this relationship. I wish I could get out of my brain and let myself love her how she deserves to be loved.

My plan today is to talk to Silas about it. He’s the best at understanding me and what I’m going through. If there’s anyone who can make me feel better about this, it’s him.

We never go to the gym early in the day, but today is the day—my deadline—the last day left to give my decision to the chief.

I don’t tell Emiline that, though.

I don’t want her to know I haven’t decided yet.

She’s going to tell me to do it. She’s going to be the most perfect and supportive person, urging me to go after my dreams. That’s just the type of person she is.

Needless to say, between yesterday’s events, waking up next to her, and deciding the fate of my future… meeting with Silas at the gym is beyond necessary.

I grab the rest of my things, brush my teeth, and find her still lying in bed. She has a smile stretched across her face that causes mine to mirror it.

“Get some good sleep today,” I tell her, leaning down to kiss her. I hold myself there longer than I want to. But not too long that I don’t leave. She needs sleep, and I have a packed day of things to take care of.

“Have fun at the gym,” she tells me before reaching for one more kiss. “Love you.”

I hover over her in shock.

What did she just say?

Her hand comes up, smacking her over the mouth. Her eyes widen as if she didn’t expect those words to come out.

She just…

“Oh my god.” She covers her entire face with her hands. “I—uh—oh my god.”

“What did you just say?”

She looks at me, her hand still covering her mouth.

“I love you,” she repeats behind her hand before letting them fall to her sides. “It’s not how I wanted to tell you, but it slipped.”

“It just slipped?”

This isn’t how it was supposed to happen.

She wasn’t supposed to fall in love with me.

At least not yet.

She wasn’t supposed to tell me she loves me.

At least not yet.

“You can’t,” I say before she can say anything more. “You weren’t supposed to fall in love with me.”

Emiline sits up in bed, positioning the covers over her and hiding herself from me.

I don’t blame her.

My tone is anything but pleasing.

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