5

“I guess for the same reason as you. I like the idea of love. The idea of being destined for each other, completing each other.” I bravely hold his gaze. “The idea that two souls connect, no matter their circumstances. But I don’t just want to read smutty romance. I like the realization that at the end, I learned something about history. About what the world looked like before I was alive.”

He presses his lips together. “See, you totally just showed why you could never get kicked out of Stanford.” I could interpret his remark as judging, reprimanding, but the proud look in his eyes just shows me he’s telling me because he wants to acknowledge my intellect. To tell me that I’m too smart to fail my classes.

I want to tell him everything because my heart thinks that out of all people, he won’t judge me. He will wrap his arms around me, telling me it will be fine. But the shame is overwhelming, making me chicken out like a little girl.

“Thank you,” I reply, then place my hand on his arm. “I will tell you.” I pause. “When I’m ready, okay?”

He leans in to cup my cheek, close enough for me to feel his breath roam over my cheek.

“You don’t have to tell me, baby. Just know that I’m here if you want to talk to anyone. I’m here for you.” I feel tears form in my eyes, but before I have to swallow them away, he pulls me into his chest, giving me the opportunity to hide my emotion as he flips the channel. “Let’s watch a movie, okay?”

I smile, sucking in a lungful of air that comes with a content feeling.

“Yeah,” I whisper, with my face pressed against his chest. I can hear his heartbeat underneath my ear, and when I close my eyes, I can’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, his heart beats for me a little more every day. Like my heart does for him.