Page 88 of My Lucky Star
I forced myself to hold his gaze, even if it felt like I was staring directly into the sun. “Areyougoing to tell me the truth?”
“Let’s make a pact. From now on, we’ll tell the truth, God’s honest truth, no matter what.”
“God’s honest truth,” I repeated. “That sounds high and mighty.”
He exhaled. “I know my English is weird. Can we move past that?”
I swallowed my guilt. “Your English is amazing. Phenomenal. I didn’t mean it like—”
“The truth, Aria.”
My mouth was so dry I could hardly coax my tongue to work. “Fine. I’m falling for you. Free falling. And I’m scared.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll hit the ground.”
“If you fall, I’ll catch you. You know that.” His smile was gentle, with a hint of cheekiness.
“You are skilled at that, aren’t you? It’s like adizitrick, isn’t it? Something they teach at acting class in Turkey?”
“Not really. You must stand in the right spot and have fast reflexes.”
He got up and pulled me up to stand. “Come on, I’ll show you.” He positioned me right next to him, facing the other way. “Fall backwards.”
“What? Right here?” My body seized. “Is this like one of those trust exercises?”
“What is this, a corporate retreat? No! We’re doing a scene.”
“Okay.” I rolled my eyes, took a deep breath, and fell backwards.
I didn’t expect it to feel like a big deal. It was essentially the same as throwing myself on the bed or couch. Vertical to horizontal. Humans did it multiple times a day.
But as I fell, time slowed. Reaching the tipping point of losing my balance, my stomach bottomed out and my heart soared. I sensed a glimpse of something beautiful, something I couldn’t quite touch. And then, I landed in his arms, and he brought me back against his chest like I weighed nothing.
I remembered the feeling of his arms, but I’d never thrown myself on him like this, without a fight. The warm sensation spreading through my body was so sweet and lovely it made me choke up. For a moment, I’d shed myself of the doubt and worry, my constant companions, entering a moment of sweet amnesia.
“I’ll always catch you, Aria,” he whispered, smiling. “If you let me.”
It was so cheesy and yet so sweet that I could barely speak. “Cem...”
He lifted my chin and found my trembling lips. “Are you okay?”
I smiled through a film of tears. “I’m still scared, but if you must know, I’m madly in love with you.”
He grinned victoriously, cupping my face in his hands. “That’s my girl.”
My in-breath made my entire body wobble, but I fought out the words quickly before he could kiss me and turn my brain to mush. “Your turn, Cem! God’s honest truth.”
I held my breath as he looked at me for a long time, his lips twitching. I imagined words arranging behind them like guests at a surprise party. “I fell for you a long time ago. Before you friend-zoned me, before you even agreed to play Burcu.”
I shook my head, rejecting the idea. “You didn’t even know me then. You still don’t.”
“Sometimes, if you have a little faith, you can sense it. Like a premonition. The essence of someone.”
“The essence?”
“Is that not the right word? I felt like I knew you already, and then everything I learned was mere detail. Fascinating detail. You’re honest and funny and clever and a little crazy, and you make me feel like I’m more than a marketable face and a body. Like I’m someone you could trust. Not a monkey in a circus but a... real man.” His voice broke and I felt a tug in my heart, my insides swirling like flood waters. I still felt his hand on my waist, holding me up, steadying me. I pressed my hands against his bare chest, feeling his heartbeat under my palms. A real heart.
