Page 48 of To Her

"So," he said as we walked slowly through the quiet streets, "you love me, huh?"

I groaned, burying my face in my free hand. "Cam told you that?"

"He might have mentioned it," Con admitted, his tone teasing. "Right after he threatened to break your face if you broke my heart."

"Your brother is..."

"A pain in the ass? Yeah, I know. But he means well."

We walked in silence for a moment, our breath forming clouds in the cold air.

"I do, you know," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "Love you, I mean. I think I have for a while. I just thought it was friendly."

Con stopped walking, turning to face me. His eyes were serious now, searching mine. “Friendly, ha. Is that why you looked so scared tonight?”

I shrugged, looking down at our joined hands. "Yes. Because everyone I've ever loved has hurt me or left me or both. Because you're my friend, and I didn't want to lose that."

"You won't lose me," Con said, his voice firm. "And I won't hurt you. Not if I can help it."

"You can't promise that," I said, the old fear creeping back in.

"No, I can't," he agreed. "But I can promise to try. To be honest with you. To talk things through instead of running away. To be there for you, the way I have been, but more."

I looked up at him, at his earnest expression, at the way the moonlight caught in his hair and made his eyes shine. And I felt it again—that unfamiliar warmth, that lightness in my chest.

Happiness. That's what it was. Pure, simple happiness.

"I'd like that," I said softly.

Con smiled, and then he was leaning in, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was gentle at first, then deeper, more urgent. Imelted into him, my arms winding around his neck, his hands at my waist pulling me closer.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard, our foreheads pressed together.

"I've been wanting to do that for a very long time," Con murmured.

"Me too," I admitted. "I just didn't know it."

He laughed, the sound warm and rich in the quiet night. "Better late than never."

We continued walking, hand in hand, talking about everything and nothing. About when he first realized he had feelings for me. About my confusion and denial. About Cam's not-so-subtle attempts to push us together.

"He's been insufferable," Con said, rolling his eyes. "Telling me I should just move on, then turning around and telling me to be patient. I think he was getting tired of watching me pine."

"Is that what you were doing? Pining?" I teased.

"Pathetically," Con confirmed with a grin. "Ask anyone."

We reached the staff entrance to the hotel, pausing outside the entrance. I wasn't ready for the night to end, for this bubble of happiness to burst.

"Do you want to come up?" I asked impulsively. "Lily's staying at Lakeview tonight."

Con's eyes darkened, but he shook his head. "Not tonight."

I tried not to let my disappointment show. "Oh. Okay."

"Hey," he said, tilting my chin up so I had to meet his gaze. "It's not that I don't want to. Believe me, I do. But I've waited this long for you. I can wait a little longer to do this right."

Relief and something like gratitude washed over me. He understood, without me having to explain, that I needed time. That this—us—was too important to rush.

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