Page 96 of Holly Ever After

His brows knit together as he steps forward, crowding me back into the confines of the room. “I always want you around.”

“But...that was before we...you know,” I stammer, trying to find the right words but failing.

His hand comes up, fingers grazing my chin, tilting my face up. “Did you listen to a damn word I said last night?”

Our eyes lock, and in that split second, a torrent of emotions pass between us, unspoken yet unmistakably clear.

“I meant what I said,” he says, his hand still holding my chin. “I want you, all of you, and I don't care about anything else.”

“Sean…”

“I’ve been in love with you since you were nineteen. Nine years you put me through hell just by looking at you and knowing I couldn’t have you. But I can have you now, and you better think again if you expect me to let you go.”

All that comes out of my mouth is air.

He loves me?

Is this a joke?

“Don’t mess with me. That’s not funny.”

But the way he’s looking at me makes me think this is anything but a joke.

My eyes widen. “You’re only telling me this now?”

He shrugs like it’s nothing. “You were busy.”

My heart races in my chest as his words sink in. A tear streaks my cheek but he’s quick to brush it away with his thumb.

I want him too, more than anything.

But…there’s always a but.

“We’ll drive each other insane,” I say, my back pressing into the wall where he cages me in.

“I fucking hope so.”

“You’re my brother’s best friend.”

“So I’ll have a black eye for a couple of weeks. You’ll find it sexy.” He winks, that cocky smirk plastered on his face.

I don't know why I'm fighting this. Maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm testing him, seeing how hard he's going to fight.

“This could ruin everything,” I say, feeling his breath across my face, the awareness of his hand on my waist sinking lower...and lower.

His eyes lock with mine. There's a pleading there, a pain, but there's so much fire. “Too late, baby. You've already ruined me.”

“We’re jumping off a cliff.”

He smiles like he’s getting amusement from this. From this pathetic struggle I’m putting up. “But we’re jumping together.”

“Stop having an answer for everything. What if I get cold feet?” I whisper.

“Then I’ll chase you until you’re out of breath and remind you of nights like last night, and why we jumped together.”

“Sean—”

“What are you scared of?”

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