Page 6 of A Love Unfaltering

It took me a moment to even process what he meant by that sentence and another moment to actually comprehend that he’d voiced it aloud.

We hadnevercommented on having feelings for each other.Ever.

“I…” I tried to speak, but I couldn’t really get any words out. I didn’t know what to say. Could I tell him that over the years, I’d had a crush on him a million different times? Could I tell him that the only reason I’d never asked him was because of exactly the reasons he was working on now?

“You don’t have to say anything. Just know that I’ve liked you for a long, long time. And I understand what I’ve been and what I’ve done is irreparable, but I figured that it’s time for you to know.”

I sat in stunned silence, a million thoughts racing through my head. Did I want to commit to this? Did I want to tell him that I had felt the same? Or did I want him to believe that I’ve only ever wanted to be friends?

“You’re an idiot.” Those were the words that eventually left my mouth, and a slight smile touched my lips as they did. His eyes locked onto mine with a bit of confusion evident in them, and as they did, the smile on my face grew wider.

“You are oblivious, aren’t you? I’ve had so many crushes on you over the years. You were too stupid to realize back then, and youstillcan’t even tell when I fancy you. I mean, haven’t youseenthe way I’ve looked at you since you’ve been back?”

It didn’t even feel like I was the one speaking; this confidence, this ability to tell him these things, was completely new to me.

His eyes widened as I spoke, and by the time I finished, I had left him in silence as equally stunned as my own.

I didn’t think either of us expected the dinner to end up with big reveals like this,especiallybefore we’d even gotten any food in our systems.

“I… well alright then,” he said before letting out a laugh. I laughed too, and then we were both laughing, the nerves leaving our bodies in heavy chuckles as we struggled to breathe, just like the old times.

This was surreal.

We were eventually able to calm down as the waitress came by to take our orders, and we both ordered some variant of Alfredo. We were giddy on the revelation of mutual love, just like I’d first expected when getting ready.

I was falling in love with him all over again, and it felt so easy, so effortless, that I didn’t even care how fast it was happening.

“Well, that’s a couple of months of nerves gone and out the window,” he finally said, sighing shakily and taking a sip of his drink. I chuckled and took a drink of my own as well, trying to keep my hands from shaking and spilling it all over the place.

“I could’ve sworn that I was going to come here tonight and tell you that, and you were going to call me an idiot and duck out of here before our food even arrived,” he said, to which I looked at him before rolling my eyes.

“You really think I’m that stupid? I’d at least mooch the free food first,” I said, to which he rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I’ve probably spent more money on food for you than on anything else in the world,” he grinned, and then we both looked over to see a waitress bringing our food to us.

“That was quick,” he said delightedly as she set the two bowls down in front of us.

“Enjoy!” the waitress said before receding into the kitchen.

There wasn’t much else to say about the meal; we ate in relative silence, meeting each other’s gaze every once in a while and smiling. It was just a quiet and peaceful dinner between the two of us.

Before I realized it, Jared paid, and we were out the door, walking toward our cars. I realized, quite quickly, that I didn’t wanted the night to end.

Before he could say anything, I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his shoulder, sighing contentedly.

“I’m happy you’re home,” I said quietly, to which he wrapped his arms around me as well and nodded his head.

“I’m happy to be here,” he said in a low voice before pressing a quick kiss to the top of my head.

The butterflies were back, dancing in my stomach again. I couldn’t believe that after so many years, he and I were finally… Something.

I didn’t know what we were, though, or what we would become, not just yet.

“Can I see you again tomorrow?” he asked, to which I simply nodded into his shoulder. “I’ll text you tonight to talk about it. We can work something out.”

He patted me on the back, and with all the reluctance in the world from both of us, we parted.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” he said with a smile. I watched him get into that blue Pontiac I had taken so many rides in and take off into the distance, leaving me confused on where the hell my life was heading.

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