Page 191 of Ice Princess

Rebel’s mouth parts on a stunned gasp.

I brush my thumb over her soft-as-lilies skin. “I’m ready to tell you now.”

She blinks in confusion. “Tell me what?”

“The answer.”

It takes a minute but realization soon dawns. “How long?”

“Since I was seven.”

She jerks back and away from my hands. “But… we stopped being friends when you were seven.”

I tell her about Uncle Clancy’s warning.

Color rises in her cheeks and she spits irritably, “That awful man! So that’s why you started treating me like I was invisible?”

“I was young, but I knew I had to protect you.”

“Gunner, I had no idea.”

My lips curl up at her big reaction. I knew she’d be surprised. “I stopped talking to you, but I never stopped watching you. I have a clear memory of finding you at the daisy field. I hid from you when every part of me wanted to run over.”

Her eyes turn red with unshed tears. “I wish you had.”

“I couldn’t. Not then.” I smile sadly.

She smiles back. “What about now?”

“Now… I’m not that little boy, hanging in the shadows, watching you weave daisy chains. I’m not afraid anymore, Rebel.” I take her hand. “Home for me is wherever you are.”

Her bottom lip trembles. “It’s the same for me, Gunner. I’ve never felt more safe, more heard, more respected in my life. You are…” She dabs at the corner of her eyes, “the ultimate pink flag.”

I laugh. “A pink flag?”

“Yeah. That’s my version of a green flag.”

“Isn’t pink just red mixed with white?”

“So?”

“Isn’t that… kind of still a red flag?”

“Don’t ruin my speech, Kinsey. You know what I mean.”

I bite back a laugh.

“I’ve thought a lot about it, and honestly, I don’t know how we’re going to solve this problem with the will. What I do know is that wherever things end up, I want to be with you. You’re more important to me than the money, than revenge, than any bad blood between me and the Kinseys.”

“I love you, Rebel,” I say, leaning forward. “I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

“I love you too, Gunner.”

My heart explodes with fireworks and I can’t hold back. Her pink lips curling up in a smile is the last thing I see before I close my eyes and kiss her. She kisses me back, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I pull her into my lap and keep kissing my sweet, sweet first love.

Rebel Hart has always been the girl for me.

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