Page 109 of Love or Leave

"Can you just give us a minute?" Antonio said to his mom.

She nodded, then turned and walked away, leaving them both behind.

"Sorry," Cara said, shaking her head. "I was so preoccupied with seeing you I hadn't realized how late it is. I probably shouldn't have—"

"We were up," he said, putting an end to her nonsense about the time. His heart had soared at the thought of her wanting to see him. He'd have answered the door at three a.m.

Cara smiled and glanced around the house. He hated that he was thirty-two and living with his parents. It felt like high school, and there were way too many photos around of him as a child.

"You grew up here?" she asked, looking around the room.

He nodded.

Her smile grew. "I like it."

The tension that he had released started to build up again. The conversation was moving too slow. It was a good sign that she was there, but what did this mean?

"Adam said you're thinking about buying a house."

"Yeah, the owner just accepted my offer. Cara, can we stop with the small talk?" he asked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his hands restless at his sides.

She smiled. "You want big talk?"

He nodded.

Her smile slowly faded as she searched his eyes. He wished he could crack her brain open and see what was going on in there. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words.

"I didn't really believe that you'd moved on," Cara said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his jaw setting with determination. "I have. Entirely."

She searched his eyes again, and he caught the way her breath hitched slightly before she gave a slow nod. "I miss you."

Hope bubbled up in Antonio, warming his chest. "I miss you, too."

Her hands found each other in front of her, fingers twisting together in nervous circles. Without thinking, he opened his arms and she stepped inside his embrace, her body melting into his.

Antonio wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her close—and in that moment, nothing had ever felt so right.

"Why are you here, Cara?"

"I love you, Antonio."

He squeezed her tighter. "I love you, too."

"I really liked being your girlfriend. I want to fall into your black hole, if you're really ready for me." She pulled back just enough to look up at him, hope and vulnerability in her beautiful eyes.

He nodded without hesitation. "I'm one hundred percent ready."

"I'm glad you didn't say something like a thousand percent. That would have really flattened my pop, if you know what I mean."

He laughed and kissed her lips, sighing when she melted into him. He loved everything about her—the way her mind worked, the feel of her skin, the sound of her laugh.

He wanted her forever.

"I don't want you to go, but I think its kind of awkward to ask you to stay." His thumb traced small circles on her lower back. He couldn’t stop touching her.

She smiled and leaned forward, kissing his neck.

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