Page 120 of Hypothetical Heart
Logan makes apffftsound, like it’s a ridiculous idea. “Sweetheart, I don’t care what you read as long as you imagine me.”
My eyes widen in shock, and my cheeks flame. “Noted,” is all I manage to choke out.
We make our way up the stairs and near where there are even more bookshelves.
“I have something to show you,” Logan tells me, his hand squeezing mine tighter as he pulls me with him toward one of the shelves on the back wall.
“What is it?” I ask, confused.
I’m pressed into his side as he reaches up, grabbing a book off the top shelf.
“Open it,” he says, handing it down to me.
“What do you mean open–” I go to flip through the pages only to find that the book is fake. The center of all the pages are cut out, turning the book into a secret hiding spot.
I pull the ring box out, and Logan takes the book from my hand, setting it on the shelf.
“Logan–”Please tell me he’s not proposing.
It’s not that I don’t love him because I really, really do. It’s the fact that we are freshly nineteen, we’ve barely been together a month. Him proposing now would bewaytoo soon.
“I’m not getting down on one knee,” he assures me, as if he can read my mind. “Not yet, at least.”
“Then what is this?” I eye the black, velvet box, suddenly self-conscious that I got the wrong idea so quickly.
Now, all I can worry about is whether or not there is a reason for this gift that I’m forgetting.
“There’s no reason for it,” Logan says, looking between me and the ring box in my hand.
I’m not kidding. I’m starting to worry he can seriously read my mind, and if that’s the case, I’m going to have to start storing away some of my not-so-PG thoughts.
I cradle the box between both of my hands, slowly popping the lid and keeping my eyes on Logan. I don’t look down at the ring itself until he motions for me to, and when I do, I’m met with the sight of the most perfect piece of jewelry I’ve ever seen.
“Logan…” I trail off, my eyes welling with emotion. “This is so pretty.”
“You like it?” he asks, resting a hand on my arm.
I slip it over my right-hand ring finger, the perfect fit. “How’d you know my ring size?”
“Genevieve,” is all he says. I could have guessed that.
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him down to my height. “Thank you, Logan.”
He laughs before saying, “You know I love you, right?”
“What?” My body turns to stone, but not because it’s unexpected. He’s shared the sentiment before. It’s just that I know this means something different this time.
It’s not the type of love we’ve grown up receiving from all our friends. This is much,muchbigger.
“Winnie, sweetheart, I’m so in love with you. I always have been.” I nod, feeling and knowing the declaration all the same. “I know it’s scary. I get scared too sometimes, but there is nothing as terrifying as the idea of not loving you for the rest of my life.” He takes a beat, and we both take a deep breath. “I know bad things happen in life, and that makes love look hard, but that’s not our love. Loving you is the easiest thing in the world.”
I look between him and the ring, the tears against mywaterline threatening to fall. His confession sears through me, giving me every bit of confidence that I’m going to spend the rest of my life hopelessly in love with this boy.
Logan thumbs a single tear off my cheek, bending slightly at the knee so we’re face to face.
“I love you,” I sputter out. “I know you, and I know how utterlygoodyou are, and I love all the ways you care about me and other people. You would do anything for anyone, and I love everything about you. I always have.”
His lips meld into mine, kissing me in a way that is different from all the other times. This one is pure love pouring out of both of us, whooshing around us in a wind tunnel full of adoration.
