Page 89 of Untruly With You

His brow lifts, a hint of mischief dancing behind his eyes. “I have something I want to say. And I’d rather say this part without an audience.”

I hesitate, but only for a second, because even with my brain shouting warnings, my feet are already following him as he leads me away from the noise, the lights, the crowd.

And into whatever this is.

The night air is thick with the scent of pine and wildflowers, a smell that—when I was back in the city earlier this week—I wished I had bottled up and carried with me everywhere. The festivities continue behind us, the reception reluctant to come to an end.

“That was quite the show,” I murmur.

Even in the dim moonlight, I can see Sutton’s cheeks redden. “That wasn’t exactly in my comfort zone,” he agrees.

He sighs, looking up at the sparkling blanket of stars overhead. The quiet stretches between us, but it’s not the uncomfortable kind. It’s heavy, charged with all the things we’ve left unsaid. The things I didn’t realize how badly I’ve been needing to hear.

Sutton’s jaw works for a moment, his hesitation making me ache. Then, finally, he speaks.

“I used to think love was simple,” he begins, his voicesteady but carrying the weight of a confession. “I thought it was about finding someone who fit into your life—like checking off boxes. But I’ve realized something.”

He steps closer, his eyes searching mine, like he’s making sure I’m really listening. “You’ve turned my life upside down, Laine,” he says, his voice dropping even lower. “And for the first time, I’m not scared to admit that. I’ve spent so long trying to stay in control, trying to avoid risks, avoid heartbreak. But you…you’ve made me realize that love is worth all of that. It’s worth everything.”

His words hang in the air, raw and honest, and all I can do is stare at him, my heart swelling and twisting all at once. He takes one more step, reaching his hand out to brush mine, the smallest touch sending sparks down my spine.

“I don’t expect you to feel the same way, not after how I treated you last week,” he says softly. “But I need you to know, Laine. I need you to know that you’ve changed everything for me.”

The world seems to hold its breath, the stars above us blinking like they're listening in, waiting for my response. My chest feels too full, my ribs barely containing the rush of emotions crashing over me—hope, fear, longing. But when I look at him, standing there with his heart on the line, the words I can’t seem to find don’t matter. Slowly, deliberately, I reach out, my fingers slipping into his, our hands fitting together like they were always meant to. His breath stutters at the contact, and for a heartbeat, we just stand there, anchored by something fragile but unbreakable.

And in that still, moonlit space, there’s nothing left between us but the truth.

My voice trembles when I finally speak, but the truth in it doesn’t.“You’ve changed everything for me too,” I whisper.

“Laine,” he murmurs, my name soft on his lips, like a promise. “I love you.”

The words settle between us, cradling this moment in their quiet embrace. The distant hum of the party becomes nothing more than background noise, insignificant compared to the weight of Sutton’s gaze and the steady warmth of his hand in mine. It’s just him and me, standing on the edge of something I’ve never dared to believe could be mine.

He lets out a shaky breath, like saying it has released something that’s been building in him for years. “I’ve loved you for longer than I’ve let myself admit.”

I blink, and tears spill over before I can stop them. His thumb brushes them away..

“I love you,” he says again, his voice firmer now, a vow. “And I will, for as long as you’ll let me.”

“Sutton,” I say, the truth steady in my chest, “I love you too.”

The smile that spreads across his face is like nothing I’ve ever seen before—like the sun finally breaking through the clouds.

Before I can say anything else, he leans down, resting his forehead against mine, his voice light with relief. “Say it again.”

I laugh, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep inside me. “I love you.”

He closes the last bit of space between us, taking me in a kiss that’s soft and certain, like he’s been waiting his whole life for this moment.

“This doesn’t mean things are going to change, right?” I ask.

Sutton tilts away from me, and I rush to clarify.

“I mean, if we’re together. We’re still going to be best friends, don’t you think? I won’t get annoyed when you color code your closet, and you won’t get annoyed that I have a new hyperfixation every three weeks?”

Sutton drags me into his chest with his good arm. “I dowonder how long you’ll be able to put up with me making a spreadsheet every time we go grocery shopping.”

“And you’ll tire of the way I simply refuse to stick to a recipe when I’m cooking.”

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