Page 122 of Isolation
I don’t have to reflect on my feelings. I already know what they are. I have known for a while.
I am just considering the potential fallout from everything else I am about to disclose.
I have been angryall night, but I need to get over it.I have to speak from my heart. I have to be honest with him.
“I loved Reid a long time ago, when we were kids,” I say evenly.
Milo is quiet. My trepidation remains as I await his response.
“And now? Do you still love him?”
“No. Once we grew up… he became my family. That's all. I already told you that it wasn’t a romantic connection for me. Reid is aware of that as well. He simply wanted me to try for more.And I did because he has always been my other half.”
Milo scoffs. “That sounds like love to me.”
“No, Milo. I don’t love him,” I say patiently. “I loveyou.”
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Milo
My heart stops.
Time stops.
Everything has come to a screeching halt.
Years have gone by, hoping to hear those words from her. Somewhere deep down I already knew that she loved me, but I assumed those were words she would never express.
Now that she has said them, they sound unreal. I need to hear them again to solidify them. I want to glue those words to this earth, so they could never float away. So, those words could never be unsaid again.
My heart is hammering much too hard, and my ears are ringing as if I just had the best fuck of my life.
It’s a different kind of high. I never thought anything on earth could be better than our physical connection. I was wrong. This is better.
“Did you just say—”
“I love you,” Raven says easily and without any hesitation.
I am gaping like an idiot. I need to move. I need to get up and collect that beautiful girl in my arms, but I am completely immobile.
“I love you too,” I finally say in an awed voice. “Do you believe me?”
“Yes,” she responds slowly. “I believe you.”
Okay. I take that in stride. She believes that I love her, and she finally told me that she loves me. We just overcame our biggest hurdle. We can overcome everything else too.
“I know we have some work ahead of us. I’ve been talking to some specialists—”
“Milo,” Raven gently cuts me off. “There are a few things I have to tell you about that I was hoping to avoid. However, it’s clear you need to hear them to understand what’s been going on.”
Raven’s tone is deceptively calm. I might have finally heard the words, but her voice tells me it’s not about to change our lives the way I hoped.
“Okay,” I respond cautiously.
“You were right. I did break things off with you because I found out how Reid felt about me. I couldn’t do that to him. He is my best friend. We have this abnormal connection that’s hard for others to understand. You know that,” she says nervously as if pleading for me to get it.
I nod. I don’t care if she was in love with him in the past. It doesn’t define our future.
