Page 83 of My Turn Petal
A boy who sees a woman in need won’t pass the opportunity to take advantage of her and have his way but a man who sees that same woman crying for help won’t ditch her to play pussy with someone else. He will dig deep with her and show her there’s nothing wrong with her. She’s not broken. She’s beautiful and vibrant. Sexy and healing. Taking her own time. Spreading her wings. Opening herself up—her petals.
When I stare into her eyes the glint of ecstasy is gone, and instead her face falls.
I cup her delicate face between my palms. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Her mile-long trail of thought is so goddamn loud that it’s impossible to focus on anything else but her sad eyes.
“I’m setting you free. You deserve better.” A tear damps her eyelashes and glides down her cheek.
I press our foreheads together, taking a deep breath. “I don’t want you to set me free.”
She completely missed the fact I told her I am in love with her a minute ago.
Sniffling, she jokes, “I need to cry it off my chest moment.”
“Cry all you like,” every emotion is written on my features, “I want to be with you, Frankie. This is my way of showing you that I’m here to stay. Not as an obligation. A choice. My choice. I don’t need to look for something that I already found.”
The tears flow when she stares at me, mirroring the love reflecting in my eyes and I know she feels the same for me.
She doesn’t need to say it.
Not until she is ready.
I’ll wait.
We’ve got plenty of time.
“I love you,” I tell her again. Sealing my lips to hers, I stitch away any doubt she has about us.
Frankie
Backinmyapartment,Theo washes my hair, and scrubbing my body anew.
“I’ll be right back,” he lets me know before he leaves.
Merrily, I waltz inside my bedroom and close the door behind me.
He loves me.
Me.
He loves me.
I giggle to myself, jumping up and down and flailing my hands in victory to the sides.
He fucking loves me.
I press my palms to my cheeks and stop jumping.What if he’s offended I haven’t said it back?
I need to tell him.
He’s lodging himself inside of my heart from day one.
I love him.
I love him so much.
I never loved anyone the way I love Theo. I don’t think I loved them. Did I know what love was like before I knew him? I don’t think so. He gave love a new meaning. Like an undefinable trait, love feels so spiritual. Not a word on a piece of paper. Or a word people blurt all the time.
