Page 99 of Perfectly Faked

“No.” I shake my head softly. “I tried to. But then I kept watching your games. You’ve never played so well. That’s when I realized I could never forget about you. I’m not like you.”

He steps toward me and takes my shoulders gently. “You think I forgot about you after two weeks?”

“You did before,” I say quietly.

He shakes his head firmly. “I never forgot you. My heart would have to stop beating to forget you, and even then, I’m not sure it would.” His hand slides up my neck, to stroke the corner of my jaw. “It was wrong of me to force you to go instead of figuring it out together.”

His gaze holds mine—and there’s no pretending now. It’s just Leo.My Leo.Then he steps closer, and my heart slams against its cage, rattling the bars I swore would keep me safe.

“If you thought I forgot about you,” he says, “then I need to show you something.”

He turns to a side table and picks up a large white shoebox. “Open it.”

Inside is an old figure skate tied to one of his.

“Old skates?” I ask, slightly confused.

“And something else too.”

I pick up the skates and something flashes in the light, a gold band with a simple round diamond.

My heart stops. I shake my head slowly. “Is this from...”

His eyes are soft. “College. That’s the ring I was going to give you.”

My breath lodges in my throat. “When?”

“I was waiting for the right time after a big competition to remind you that some dreams were worth fighting for. Whether that was skating... orus. And then two weeks later, you broke things off.”

“Leo,” I gasp. “You kept this all this time?”

“Every time I tried to get rid of it, I couldn’t let it go,” he says. “I kept thinking that when it was the right time, I’d know—but it never happened. That’s why I didn’t want you going in my bedroom.”

I feel like the worst person in the world. Leo was going to propose to me, and instead I broke up with him.

I blink back the tears welling up in my eyes. “I can’t believe it.”

He smiles softly. “You needed proof that I never forgot about you.” He nods toward the skates. “That’s my proof.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I finally say in a shaky voice. “We could have been together so long ago. We didn’t have to be apart all this time.”

He removes the skates from my hands and sets them on the table. Then he clasps my hands in his, rubbing his thumb against my skin, every touch, a flame. “We weren’t ready for it back then. I was too ambitious and stubborn. Honestly, I probably wouldn’thave been as understanding of sharing you with the world. I needed time to grow into the man who could love you the way you deserve.” He hesitates for a beat, skimming my cheek with the back of his knuckles. “I was so scared that I’d lost you...again.”

“These last two weeks have been the worst of my life, Leo. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I’ve basically been living in your clothes like some weirdo who doesn’t believe in owning a wardrobe.” I tug at the hem of his hoodie. “And I’ve missed your smile so much. Skating with Peter didn’t make me happy. Not even the thought of Nationals did. But being away from you—thatmade me see things clearly. Just because something was my dream once doesn’t mean it’s still the right one for me. Not when I’ve changed. Not whenyou’vechanged. And the only thing I know for sure now is that what I really want... isyou. If you’ll have me back.”

His thumb stills. “If?” he murmurs under his breath. “Like there’s any question? You scared the crap out of me when you wouldn’t return my messages. Like I’d ruined the best thing in my life by making you go. Do you know what you mean to me? I need you, Victoria. I always have.”

Then he takes a step forward, and the cage around my heart shatters as his lips press against mine—needy and urgent, like a drowning man desperate for air. His hands wrap around me, pulling me into arms before he lifts me off the ground, still kissing me. Something in my chest spirals, wanting him closer, needing him this way. My fingers fist into his shirt, but he pulls away, his breathing ragged, and presses his forehead to mine as he sets me on the ground. His hands cut into my waist. “So is this a yes?” he asks. “We’ll make this work and you’ll stay?”

“Yes,” I answer with a smile. “As long as we agree not to hide this.” I reach for the skates and start untying the ring.

Leo shakes his head, grabbing the ring as it slips from the laces. “That’s not the way it works.”

“Why not?” I ask. “You’ve been holding on to it for this long. I’ve waited years for this. Years, Leo!”

He smirks, holding the ring just out of reach. “Oh, so now who’s impatient?”

“I’m not impatient,” I counter. “I’m proactive.”

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