Page 63 of Love Potion

“I would have never thought…”

“I know. Listen, Jerr, there’s still no pressure. You don’t have to say anything you’re not feeling or not ready to feel. You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. You don’t have to perform. Not for me. I’m your best friend, and I want to be the love of your life, and you can take as much time as you need to catch up with me.”

A sob bubbles out of me, and Bane’s expression softens as he opens his arms to me. I lean into him, burying my face in the crook of his neck. He loves me? It feels like a dream or a miracle. My heart is beating fast and the tears are flowing as I realize this is the first time in my life I’ve heard those words said to me. No one has ever been in love with me, but all along, Bane was?

“I wish you’d told me sooner,” I mumble, lifting my head to wipe at my cheeks and nose. “I wish you saw yourself the way I do and knew you were perfect for me all along.”

“I wish I’d told you sooner too. I wish I’d felt brave enough years ago to beg you to stop looking at losers who don’t understand you because I do. I always have.”

“I used to wish we could be something,” I admit. “Because I knew what an amazing man you are, but I thought it was useless because I’m not like other men you’ve dated.”

“No shit. You’re a thousand times better.” He takes my hands in his again. “I fucked around a lot, and maybe I was trying to get over you in a way, but it never worked. I was never gonna fall for someone else when you’ve had my heart all along.”

A hesitant smile pulls at my lips. “You’re really in love with me?”

“Absolutely.”

“That’s pretty amazing.”

“Can you promise you’ll never get an idea like that again? There’s no one but you. There’s never gonna be anyone but you. I want you, and all that you are, Jerr. Whatever that looks like for us, I’m all in.”

I nod, even as my head swirls with possibilities. I’m too jumbled up to tell him my feelings too, but it’s Bane, and he’s gonna be there when I’m ready.

I believe him.

I trust him.

And my god, I love him.

TWENTY

BANE

TellingJerryn I’m in love with him is such a surreal feeling. I’ve known forever, wondered if I would ever have the nerve to tell him, and now that I have, my only regret is not telling him sooner. I could’ve been this happy a long time ago.

It was honestly the only reasonable response to his suggestion. Fuck other people? No way. No shade to anyone that works for, but I can’t even imagine it now that I’m in an actual relationship with Jerr. The last thing on my mind is getting laid. The only thing that matters to me is making him feel safe and happy. That’s it.

He’s standing near a table after delivering some appetizers to them, and I realize how many times I’ve watched him, just like I am now, dreaming about finally admitting my feelings. I’m leaning on the bar, all my attention focused on Jerr, when someone bumps into me.

I turn to my left to see Lowen. His cheeks are pink and he looks a bit flustered as he reaches out and grabs my arm to balance himself.

“So sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“It’s cool.” I tilt my head. “You okay?”

“Yes. Fine.” He smooths his hands over his t-shirt, and over his shoulder I see Oakley coming down the hallway.

I get it now. “Were you smooching back there?”

Lowen practically chokes on his own spit before clearing his throat. “Of course not.”

I grin. “So that beard burn is from this morning?”

Oakley joins us, a big smile on his face. “How’s it going, Bane?”

“All good here. You?”

“Perfect.” He kisses Lowen’s cheek. “I’m gonna sit at the bar.”

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