Page 112 of Make Me Swoon

“Fuck, Coraline. Fuck. Jesus, I love you,” he says as he finds his own release.

Hearing him say those three words sends a shockwave through my system. I should probably be freaked out that it happened so soon, but all I feel is excitement. I want to say it back but then the doubts hit me.

Did he just say that in the heat of the moment? Did he really mean it?

I open my mouth to say something, but the words won’t come and I hurry off the table, grabbing my clothes as my phone rings.

“I should get this,” I tell him, tugging my clothes on. “Thanks for the tattoo.”

I turn and jog toward the door then, ignoring Harvey when he calls after me. It isn’t until I’m outside in my car that I start to panic.

What the heck do I do now?

THIRTEEN

Harvey

“I toldCoraline that I loved her,” I blurt out as soon as I walk into Eye Candy Ink the next day.

Rooney drops the case of Clorox wipes that he’s carrying to the back office. Gray and Ender both just stare at me blankly, while Banks looks confused and I realize that I haven’t seen him in a few days so he’s probably behind in gossip. Ames doesn’t even look up, he’s too busy nuzzling his fiancée, Maxine’s, neck.

“Congratulations, Harvey. Does Aunt Darcy and Uncle Atlas know yet? I know they were telling my dad that they still haven’t really met her. They’re super upset that Uncle Max and Aunt Cat have already talked to her a bunch and they haven’t.”

I groan, knowing that I’m going to be hearing more about that from my mom and dad, probably tonight.

“She didn’t say it back,” I tell the room before this conversation can get too far off the rails.

“Oh,” Gray says with a wince.

“Bummer,” Banks says and I think he’s still trying to keep up with the conversation.

“Maybe she didn’t hear you?” Maxine suggests and I shake my head.

“She definitely did. She ran out of here afterward like the place was on fire.”

“Maybe she just needs more time,” Ames says, wrapping his arms around Maxine’s waist.

“Yeah, you did just meet her like three weeks ago. You probably freaked her out,” Rooney chimes in and I glare at him.

“So, I shouldn’t have told her how I felt?” I ask the group and everyone looks around.

“I think that you should have,” Ender finally says and I’m surprised that he was the one to answer.

“Yeah, maybe she just needs time to process it,” Maxine suggests, shuffling the papers in her hands.

“Maybe you scared her off,” Rooney says and I see Banks shoot him a glare.

“I don’t think you should take any of Rooney’s advice. It’s not like he has a girlfriend,” Banks says and Rooney eyes him.

“And you do?” Rooney asks and we all turn to look curiously at Banks.

He squirms in his chair and looks away and I know that Rooney is never going to let this go now.

“What’s her name?” Gray asks.

“And when do we get to meet her?” Rooney asks with a wicked grin.

“You? Never.”

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