Page 144 of Firecracker

Her eyebrows flew up. “Really? Did you make that?”

“No.” He grimaced.

She grinned.

“I have to warn you—you probably won’t like humble pie the first time you try it. I didn’t. But it kind of grows on you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Mmm. At first it kind of tastes like shit. Then it changes…to not bad…then to sweet.”

“Well, I have news for you.”

“What?”

“I’ve actually already tasted humble pie. More than once.” She blinked rapidly, pressing her fist to her mouth. “But it’s a good reality check and it keeps us grounded.”

“I’m an idiot, Arden.”

She blinked at him again, mouth still covered.

“And I’m sorry. So goddamn sorry. When you came to see me in the hospital…” He looked away briefly. “I was afraid to believe it was true. That you loved me. I was afraid you just felt sorry for me because of the accident, and that’s why you came back.” He met her eyes. “I thought you wanted to be on your own to figure out your life.”

“I thought that too.” She lowered her hand. “I was wrong.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I love you. And when you said you didn’t feel the same…and you told me I was the one stopping you from proving yourself…fuck.”

Her face burned. “Oh God, Tyler. I’m sorry. I was so wrong.”

“Iaman interfering idiot.”

One corner of her mouth lifted.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about it. I’m going to do better. Especially with you…if you’ll let me?”

She nodded slowly, her insides quivering, her heart slamming.

He walked toward her, lifting his arms. And then she was there, in his arms, up against him. He held onto her, tilting his head to find her mouth with his in a long, lush, desperate kiss. Her cheek was wet against his and he drew back, using his thumb to brush away the moisture. “Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I don’t ever want to make you cry again.”

“It’s okay.” She blinked wet eyelashes. “I’m happy crying.”

He kissed her again and she melted into him. Relief floated like bubbles in her veins, joy expanding in her chest.

He lifted his head and they smiled at each other.

“I love you, Tyler. I really, really love you.”

He slid his hand into her hair. “I love you too.”

He brushed his mouth across hers again in a slow, sweet kiss of regret and promise.

She drew back. “Okay, what’s really in the pie?”

He chuckled. “It’s an apple pie. I bought it at the farmers’ market.”

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