Page 73 of Forever Fallen

“I know we haven’t known each other very long, Sophie,” Ryan said quietly, crossing his arms over his chest. “We are still getting to know each other – but I can honestly tell you that I love you with everything I am and would never damage what we have.”

“Tell me then…” she pleaded openly, “please don’t let there be secrets between us or hide things from each other.”

“I have a surprise planned for us on Friday,” he began, his voice tight with frustration as he looked at her. She could see the hurt in his eyes and realized that he was angry. “I will not tell you more because it would ruin it. If you can’t trust me to wait two more days, then I probably need to know that now, before I’m gone for an entire year.”

His eyes were full of pain, shining with unshed tears, and he looked so brittle, as Sophie stared at him realizing something was horribly wrong and she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“You’ve always been open with me,” she whispered painfully, “and I even asked you not to break my heart. I am trusting you and hope this secret is worth it.”

“I believe it is or I wouldn’t keep it,” he replied, swallowing. “I love you and would never hurt you - ever.”

“You’ve never given me a reason to not trust you… until today.”

“Your parents lied and kept secrets from each other, didn’t they?”

“Yes,” she said angrily, trying to get her crying under control.

“We aren’t them,” Ryan said bluntly, before unfolding his arms and holding out a hand to her, his whole demeanor softening. “I’d like to hug my wife, if you’ll allow it. Please, no more tears, Sunshine.”

Sophie rushed into his arms, burying her face against his shoulder, scared.

“Trust me…” he urged softly, smoothing her hair. “I know this is new, you have a past, and we are still learning who the other person is… but one thing I can honestly tell you is that I will forever keep my word to you.”

Nodding against him, she sighed shakily.

She felt Ryan’s hands leave her back as he touched the side of her face, cupping it so she was looking up at him.

“You are the one person I would die for, Sophie, and I will never deliberately hurt you. Friday. That’s all I am asking for… trust me until Friday and I promise it will be worth it.”

Searching his eyes, she felt herself start to tear up again as she saw the earnestness in his gaze, and the hurt.

“I never meant to hurt you,” she whispered. “I’m just so scared that something is going to go wrong and ruin this between us.”

“I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you never doubt what we have,” Ryan vowed tenderly, before kissing the tip of her nose. “I meant it when I said I love you – and I will love you until the earth stops spinning or the stars fade away to nothing.”

Sophie broke at his words, reaching up and throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him.

“I love you…” she said thickly. “Please don’t hurt me, Ryan. You are the one person I believe in and trust more than anything – and I’m terrified to lose my best friend or damage this between us.”

“Never, my beloved Sophie…” he whispered, smoothing her hair.

* * *

Hours later,she was laying there in bed beside Ryan, more terrified than ever, realizing she could have damaged something between them by jumping to conclusions and accusing him of being unfaithful.

The last few weeks had been more beautiful and so incredibly special, then at the slightest inkling of a doubt? She’d grabbed it and let her mind run away with it.

Rolling over to look at him, she hesitated, only to see that he was still awake.

“Hey…” he whispered.

“Ryan, I…” she began and hesitated. “I’ve never had anyone so sweet, wonderful, or gentle as you – and I wanted to apologize.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“I can’t sleep without knowing we are okay,” she admitted painfully. “I’m so scared that I screwed up things between us and I think part of it is that I am realizing that your departure is coming up way too fast. I feel so brittle, so shaken, like my world is getting ready to fall apart again. I let my imagination get out of control before I had a chance to think about things.”

He nodded silently.

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