Page 92 of The Fighter
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “The reason I’ll worry about you is because I like you so much.”
“I like you too, Leo.”
“Yeah, but I more than like you.”
A triangle formed between my eyebrows. “What are you saying?”
We were lying close together and he was looking deep into my eyes. “Promise that you’ll stay right here and talk to me instead of storming out of the room.”
My heart was racing. “Why would I storm out?”
“I love you, Raven.”
Leo looked so serious at that moment; all my words about wanting a man with a sense of humor came back to me. I didn’t mind that he was serious, not when it came to how much he cared about me. My feelings for Leo had been strong before I even realized it myself. My irrational aggression toward Gennie for coming on to him should have been a clue, and today’s drone crash had wiped away all remaining doubt in my mind. I had met hundreds if not thousands of men and none of them had ever made me feel like Leo did. Watching that drone crash and not knowing if Leo was inside or not had been the worst moments of my life.
“I think I love you too.”
Leo used his left hand to cup my face. “You think or you know?”
My face softened. “I know that I love you.”
“You sure?”
The hope on his face made me smile. “Yes, I’m sure.”
He was searching my eyes. “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”
“I love you.” My smile widened. “I’m not sure when it happened exactly but I was physically attracted to you from the first day you pissed me off at the Gray Manor. Then at Solo’s and Willow’s wedding, I tried to get you to dance with me, remember?”
“Yeah, I remember, and when I wouldn’t, you danced with that mutant huntsman.”
“He’s not a mutant.”
“I know, I just call them that because they’re so fucking large.”
“While dancing with him, I kept looking over at you to see if you noticed.”
“Oh, I noticed all right.”
“Did you also notice that I never teased or provoked anyone as much as I did you?”
“No, but I’ll take your word for it.”
“Leo, if I’m completely honest, I’ve probably had a crush on you for over a year.”
He leaned in and kissed me. “I could have died today and if it taught me anything, it’s to not waste time. You need to know that I’m in over my head. I think about what’s ahead and I’ve never been so scared and excited at the same time. You’re going to drive me mad, Raven. I know you will, but I also know that I’ll love every day I get to spend with you.” Leo kissed my forehead.
I knew he was hinting at marriage, but with Magni fighting for his life and the guilt I felt over the crash, I couldn’t think about that right now. “Please don’t ask me to marry you. I need time, Leo.”
He was quiet but I sensed his disappointment.
“It doesn’t change that I love you and that I’m with you.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.” I kissed him again. “My turn to ask you something. Why did you take my torn shirt from the day we fought?”
He stiffened. “So you found it?”
