Page 51 of Always? Forever.
“I love you too. And it terrifies me.”
I rushed toward her, gently gripping her arms. “Why?”
“Because I’ve never been loved like this. Never trusted someone enough to fall. But you… you scare me because I want to fallso badly.”
“Then do it,” I whispered. “I’m not asking you to jump alone. I’m already at the bottom, waiting to catch you. Fall, Samaira. I swear I’ll never let you hit the ground.”
A single tear slid down her cheek. I brushed it away.
“We’ve known each other for what, weeks? And yet, it feels like I’ve known you my entire life. I don’t care if it’s corny, Ineedyou in my future. So take a chance. On me. Onus.”
She took a shaky breath, rose on her toes, eyes locked on mine.
“A thousand times yes.”
I grinned like a fool and kissed her. Once. Twice. Ten times. Each one sealed with an “I love you.”
By the tenth, she was laughing into my mouth.
Later.
We stood on the balcony, her back to my chest, the city lights sparkling like we were in a movie.
She turned to face me, that same wonder in her eyes.
“I used to get annoyed at you so much… but I could never really hate you. Because deep down, I knew, you were the one. You were the reason it never worked out with anyone else.”
Tears burned in my eyes. She reached up and kissed me like she meant forever.
And honestly?
It felt like home.
Chapter 36
Samaira
That night, I stayed over. When I woke up, my back was pressed to his chest, his arm draped over my waist, our legs tangled like we were always meant to fit. And for the first time in forever, I wasn’t irritated or overthinking. I was wrapped up in someone I loved, who loved me back, and everything felt like it might actually be okay.
Then I reached up to lace my fingers with his, and there it was. The ring. The stupid, sparkly reminder that we were still faking it.
And just like that, the warmth cracked. How the hell do you fall for someone in a lie and still hope it’s real?
I tried to slip out of bed, but the slightest movement made him stir. I froze. No point trying again, because a second later, he shifted and effortlessly pinned me beneath him, his body heavy and warm against mine.
“Morning,” he said, flashing that annoyingly smug, heartbreakingly hot smile.
I rolled my eyes but still grinned like an idiot.
He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my face away. “Morning breath,” I mumbled in weak protest.
He rolled his eyes like I’d just said the most ridiculous thing in the world. “You really think morning breath is gonna stop me from kissing the woman I love?” he said, before pressing his lips to mine anyway. “Not a chance.”
“So… we should probably talk about the elephant in the room,” I said, fully prepared to dive into the whole fake engagement situation.
Instead, he casually dropped, “Your parents are flying in today. I called the hotel they’re staying at and upgraded their room.”
Hold on—what?
