Pulling back so I could look into his eyes—eyes that were welling with tears—I brushed my fingers across the hair just above his ear and said, “I guess you didn’t find my note.”
His brows drew together, a tear sliding free and breaking my heart. I wiped it away, smiling softly at him. “What note?” he asked quietly.
“Come here,” I said, standing and pulling him with me.
“Lea—”
“Just let me show you something real quick,” I said, dragging him toward the bedroom. I’d stuck it on one of his monitors, but maybe it had fallen off?
When we got in the room, I let go of his hand and went over to the desk, looking for the small piece of pink paper.
“Lea, can you just—just tell me what you want? Should I l-leave now?”
He sounded so small and broken open, like it had taken everything in him to confess his love to me and he’d been left with nothing.
Fuck, I was an idiot.
I whipped around and wrapped my arms around him immediately, as if he would actually leave if I wasn’t holding him. “No,” I said roughly, squeezing him tighter. “Beau, I never want you to leave. Ever.” Pulling back, I cradled his face in my hands, looked into those sad brown eyes, and said softly, “I love you, Beau Hart. I’m sorry it took me so long to catch up.”
Doubt festered like an open wound in those eyes. “Y-you love me?”
Keeping my eyes on his, I turned him around and backed him up until his legs hit the bed, slowly pressed him back ontothe mattress, and crawled over him until I was straddling him. I folded my arms above his head, rubbed my nose against his, and whispered, “Yes, I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Beau set his hands gently on my back, eyes glistening with tears, and whispered, “You’re just saying that.”
My heart cracked open.
He didn’t believe me.
I kissed him, a featherlight press of my lips on his, and said, “Well, I am saying that—because it’s the truth. If you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life convincing you just how much I mean it.”
“Lea…”
Hope mingled with doubt in his voice, and I splayed my hands on either side of his face, making sure he was looking into my eyes so he could see the truth. “Beau, I love you,” I said vehemently, needing him to believe it. “I’m so sorry it took me this long to realize it, and I’m sorry I hurt you, I’m sorry if you ever felt like you weren’t enough because you have becomeeverythingto me. I want to be with you in every way a man can be with the man he loves. I want to wake up every morning in your arms and fall asleep every night feeling your heart beat. Forever. Because I love you. Please believe that.”
Beau’s tears had spilled over halfway through my declaration, so I whispered, “Don’t cry, baby,” and kissed them away. His arms tightened around me until I was flush against his chest, lying on top of him with my face beside his. I peppered his cheek with more kisses. “Don’t cry.” I ran my fingers through his hair, then stroked them back and forth across his fuzz.
“You—you really love me?” he blubbered, holding onto me like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go.
“I really, really,reallylove you, babe,” I said softly. “I really, really do.”
He choked out a laugh and turned his face until our noses were touching and our eyes were locked together. “I feel like I’m dreaming. That makes me so happy.Youmake me so happy, Lea.”
“That’s all I want for you. To be happy.” I captured his lips and poured every ounce of love I could into the kiss, wanting to reassure him of how much I meant every word. I drew away and asked, “Will you be my boyfriend, Beau? I promise I’ll make you even happier.”
His breath hitched and his eyes welled with new tears. “Oh, god, yes?—”
“What the fuck?” said a deep voice behind us.
I jolted in Beau’s arms as he gasped. “Shea,” he said in a small voice.
My entire body tensed up.
Shit.
“What the hell is going on?” Before I could even turn around, Shea grabbed me my arm and pulled me off Beau.
“Whoa!” I cried as he fisted the material of my shirt, his eyes filled with an angry disbelief. “Shea, it’s not?—”