Page 136 of Wrong For Me

Her eyes widen. Oh, shit. For one second, I let the fear get into my head. What if she’s not in the same place? What if she isn’t ready to say it back? What if—

“Turn that big brain off for a second there, buddy.” She smiles, placing her hands on my cheeks, her touch so gentle. “I love you, Leo.”

Shit. I just might cry. Bodhi would be so proud.

She kisses me again then pulls back, narrowing her eyes. “I still say you eat cereal like a sociopath, but I guess I love you anyhow.”

“Aw, princess, you talk so sweet to me.”

Then we’re both laughing and kissing and holding each other close on the soft carpet of pine needles, and I know that I’ve never been happier than I am in this moment.

* * *

We only leaveour little nest when it gets too cold to stay out any longer. I’d be happy to sit by the river with her forever, but eventually Rose starts to shiver and I remind myself that neither of us are really dressed for the weather. So we make our way back towards the farmhouse, holding hands.

“You nervous?” she asks, looking up at me.

I shrug, even though I most definitely am. “Worst thing that happens is a Ransome boy punches me.”

She grins. “I think the worst thing would be if multiple Ransome boys punch you.”

I poke her side. “Okay, fine. So worst case scenario, that’s, what? Two punches. No biggie.”

“Actually, Fox is probably here by now. He was flying in with the twins. So there’s Ash, too, but you could probably take him down, seeing as how he’s thirteen and all.”

I groan. “Okay, so four punches. I’m going to have to let the kid get one in, because there’s no way I’m “taking him down.” The goal is to get your family not to hate me.”

“Hey.” She stops walking and links her hands behind my neck. “They might be mad today—even though I was just kidding about the punching, they’re all way too scared of my mom to try anything like that.” She smirks and goes on. “They might not welcome you with open arms, but they’ll come around. It won’t take them long to see what I see in you.”

I press my hands into her lower back, pulling her closer. “Yeah? And what do you see in me?”

Her face is entirely serious. “I see my future.” Then she winks. “See, sometimes I talk sweet to you.”

I laugh, even as my heart wants to fly out of my chest with her words. “Only very, very occasionally.”