Page 124 of Wonderstruck

“I’m not.” I interrupted, handing the cup back toher and holding my breath.

Here goes.

“Just look.”

Her brows furrowed, her confusion so genuine itmade my chest ache a little. But soon enough she looked down, and the moment stretched out, impossibly slow. Her breath hitched, and I swear I could feel the shift, like the air around us had somehow thickened as she read.

The three words I’d scrawled on the lid earliertoday weren’t neat, but they were clear:

Je t’aime.

I love you.

I quickly winked up at Robbie, the guy I’dslipped the lid to this morning, before gazing back at Rory.

She stared at the words for what felt like forever,her fingers tightening slightly around the cup. When she finally looked up at me, her brown eyes were misty, and the sight of her like that nearly had me tugging her into my chest.

“I’ve never seen anyone write on your coffee lidbefore,” I said, my voice soft, careful. Like if I spoke too loudly, I’d ruin the moment. “So I thought the first time someone did, it should be worth remembering.”

She blinked, and for a second, I thought she might cry—or maybe that was just me projecting because the corners of my eyes were beginning to sting.

She looked back at the lid, then at me, her glossed lips parting as they trembled.“I… I don’t know what to say,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.

“You don’t have to say anything,” I said,stepping closer. My hand lifted on instinct, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. “Not if you’re not ready. I just… I couldn’t keep it in anymore. I had to say it before I got in my head and ruined everything. Again.”

I should have looked away. Should have laughed it off. Pretendedlike this wasn’t the most terrifying, gut-wrenching moment of my life. But I couldn't. Because she was standing there, holding my heart in her hands, and I swore I forgot how to breathe.

I was an idiot—no, I wasdelusional—to think I could survive in a world whereI didn’t get to hear her laugh. Where I didn’t get to watch her scrunch her nose when she was concentrating or roll her eyes when I said something ridiculous just to make her smile. I love her. More than I’ve ever loved anything. I love her so much it hurts—this terrible, beautiful kind of pain that has been eating me alive since the moment I met her.

And now she knows.

“And if I’m being honest,” I added, my voicequieter now, “I think I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you—on the roof, last year. I didn’t know it was possible up until that moment to feel so drawn to another person and feel equally as terrified of them. Of what they meant.” My head shook. “That’s why I messed it all up.”

Her gaze held mine, and I felt the weight ofeverything I’d just thrown at her. But instead of pulling away, she stayed, her voice steady as she said, “I forgive you, you know.”

My breath caught. “You do?”

She nodded, her expression soft but sure. “You didn’t want to hurt me, Finn. I know that now. And maybe…” She paused, her lips curving into a faint, bittersweet smile. “Maybe you did it for a reason. Maybe it was supposed to always happen that way.”

“What do you mean?”

Her head dipped. “I would’ve leaned on you completely when my life was crumbling. I know I would.” When her head came back up, that layer of mist was now racing down her cheek. I swatted it away before she could. “And… maybe I needed that space on my own to figure out who I was and where I wanted to go. Without that, I might not have found my way back to skating again.”

She shrugged, her words carrying a kind of quietwisdom that made me want to wrap her up in my arms and never let go. “Maybe this is all happening exactly the way it’s supposed to.”

This woman was pure magic.

I didn’t deserve her, not even close. But as Istood there, watching her hold that stupid coffee cup like it was the most precious thing in the world, I felt something that burned like hope settle deep in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, I could be enough for her after all.

“Can I kiss you now?” I asked, holding her facein my hands.

“Of course.” She said, her voice low, as she tiltedher head upwards. “Although I’m not promising you that I can only let myself kiss you this time.”

I felt my throat bob, and I had to stop myselffrom tightening my grip on her waist. My eyes fell closed as the hazy image of what could happen ran through my mind, before fell back into those eyes. “Are you sure you know what you’re asking?”

Sultry as I’d ever seen her, her eyes slowlymoved between mine, before lingering over my mouth. Every part of me felt a blaze, burning under her attention. I downright nearly crumbled as her glossy lips parted finally. “I think I’m asking for the man I love to take me back to his place. Please.”

The world faded as I replayed what she’d said.

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