I blink up at him, dazed.
“What?”
“We need to talk.”
Oh.Oh, no,I think as my stomach drops.
“Okay,” I say carefully.
He runs a hand through his hair, pacing like he’s trying to get it together.“I should have said this before, well… everything.”
My chest tightens.“Rune?—”
“This isn’t fake for me,” he says, cutting me off.
I freeze.“What?”I whisper.
He steps closer again, his eyes locked on mine.“I’m not pretending.I can’t pretend with you.I’m… all in, Jem.I have been since the second you walked up to me in that damn store.You caught me off guard at first, and Jesus, I was so happy.Then, when you told me it would be fake, I didn’t know what to say.I figured I could spend time with you and show you that we were right for each other.”
My breath catches.
“I’m serious about you,” he continues.“I want you.Not just for a wedding.Not just for a few weeks.I want all of it.”
Tears sting my eyes.“You do?”
“Yes,” he says firmly.“I love you, Shortcake.”
The words hit me like a wave: fast, powerful, and inevitable.Instead of fear, all I feel is… right.
“I love you too.”
“You do?”he asks, as if he needs to hear it again.
“Yes,” I say, smiling through tears.“It’s fast, I know, but it’s felt right since the beginning.I’ve never felt like this before.”
Something cracks open in him.Relief, maybe?Possession.No… love.
“Fuck,” he breathes, pulling me into him.
He kisses me like it means everything, like he never wants the kiss to end.
“I want you with me,” he says against my lips.“At my place.Move in with me.”
My heart stutters.“Rune?—”
“I don’t want to be away from you.Not if I don’t have to be.”
I laugh softly, cupping his face.“I will,” I promise.“After the wedding.I just… have too much going on right now.”
“I’ll handle it,” he says immediately.
I smile.“I know you will.”
I kiss him again, softer this time.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” I whisper.“I’m so glad I stopped for ice cream that night.”
He huffs out a laugh.“Me too.”