"You shouldn't have done that.You worked your whole life for that job.And you were good at it.You made a difference.That was your dream."
He takes a slow step toward me."Yes, it was.But dreams can change."
My breath catches."Why would you give that up?"
His voice drops, low and steady."Because I love you more."
Everything inside me stills.The world stops moving.My brain can't compute the words that just left his mouth.I'm blinking up at him, stunned, and all I can think is, this doesn't happen to girls like me.Not the kind that people have always left behind.
He steps closer until I have no choice but to look up at him.My heart beats faster, the room tilting sideways.
"No," I say again, shaking my head."No, you didn't just throw everything away for me."
"I didn't throw anything away.Instead, I made a decision.I chose you."
My laugh is short, disbelieving."You think giving up your career isn't throwing something away?"
He shrugs, calm in the face of my unraveling."I think losing you would be worse."
I want to scream and cry.I want to take his face in my hands and kiss him senseless.
But mostly I want to run.Because this is too much, it’s too real.
"I never asked you to do this," I say, my voice cracking.
"I know you didn't."
His thumb brushes over my cheek.I hadn't realized I was crying.That seems to be the theme with us lately, me falling apart.Him, putting me back together.
"But I would've chosen you every time."
I can barely breathe.My chest rises and falls so fast I feel lightheaded.
"You want to run?Go ahead," he says, eyes boring into mine."But don't lie to me.Don't lie to yourself."
"This is insane," I whisper.
"No.This is real."
And God help me, I believe him.
He tilts my chin up, gently but firmly.I can feel the heat of his body, the roughness of his hands, the certainty in his touch.Everything I've ever wanted wrapped up in this one impossible man.
"I will tell you over and over again until you believe me.I'm not going anywhere," he murmurs.
I close my eyes.And fall head over heels for this man who has been fighting for me andwithme.
"Gage..."
He kisses me.Deep.Fierce.It’s as if he's reclaiming every piece of me I tried to hide.
And I let him.
Melting against him, I let all the fight drain from me in a rush of warmth and surrender.His arms wrap around me tighter, lifting me just enough that my toes barely skim the ground.I cling to him, fingers twisting in the back of his shirt, afraid he might vanish if I let go.
The kiss slows, softens.He holds me close, his lips brushing mine in featherlight kisses until I'm breathless and trembling.
I pull back slightly, resting my forehead against his."What are you going to do now?"