“So happy,” she gushes, and I press my forehead to hers. Our eyes lock, and fuck, I love her so much. I sigh deeply, and she eyes me. “What?”
“I wanted to talk to you about what you said at the meet.”
She raises one eyebrow. “Which is?”
“That you loved me.”
Her face breaks into a grin. “Don’t act like that’s shocking news. I think it’s pretty obvious that I’m in love with you.”
“Well, I wanted you to be. And I love you. But I know it isn’t a good idea.”
She gives me a sarcastic look. “Then don’t be so irresistible.”
“I’ll work on that,” I say, my lips quirking at one side.
“You should, especially with you leaving and all. I don’t want to have to come wherever you are and fight off chicks with a hockey stick. I’ll get lessons from Amelia and Posey, mind you.” I snort at that while she grins up at me. “Did you really mean it when you said you loved me from the moment you met me?”
My heart swells in my chest. “I think so, but—”
“But what? What’s wrong with that? That’s perfect.”
“No, Sofia, listen to me. As much as I want this to work if I leave, I don’t think it’s fair to you.”
She lets out a harsh breath, glaring up at me. “This shit again?”
“Yes, listen. Seriously,” I say when she moves out of my arms. “You were a virgin when you met me. Don’t you want to see what it’s like with other guys?”
She scrunches up her face. “No, do you want to be with other girls?”
I scrunch up my face just as much as she did. “Not at all, but I’ve been with girls before you. Can you honestly say you’re fine just being with me?”
“Yeah,” she says with no hesitation at all. “I saved myself for a very long time. Mostly out of fear and a lack of time to get down to business. But there were plenty of times I could have done something before I met you, and I didn’t. I wanted it to be with someone I not only loved but I trusted. That’s you. So I really don’t know why you keep bringing this up.”
“Because there are more guys out there than just me—”
“Not for me,” she says abruptly, her gaze holding mine. “I love you, Ryan James Justice. Only you. I only want you. I only want to be with you. Just you.”
“Sofia—”
“So you need to decide if I’m enough—”
“There is nothing to decide,” I say, running my fingers through my hair. “Fuck, baby, I love you. So much. But I don’t want to expect you to be satisfied with just me. With only seeing each other every once in a while. That’s not fair to you.”
She presses her palm to her chest, and her eyes are fiery. “Let me decide what’s fair, okay? And how dare you say I shouldn’t be satisfied with just you? You’d better be satisfied with just me because that’s all you’re getting if we’re going to do this. I am lucky to be with you, as you are with me, and I fucking want to do this.”
Her face is flushed, but her eyes don’t leave mine. I do the same, my heart slamming in my chest. I don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong. “So you’ll be fine with a long-as-hell-distance relationship?”
“If I get to see you and I get to talk to you daily, yes. I’ll be fine because you make this easy. This love between us, Ryan, it’s amazing. I’m not asking you to marry me. I just want to you to try with me.”
I swallow thickly, shaking my head. “And what if I don’t make it?”
She tilts her head in surprise. “What?”
I look away, inhaling roughly, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this. “If I don’t make it into the NHL, what does that mean for us?”
I can’t bear to look at her. This girl is everything I want. I didn’t plan on throwing it out there, but I need to know. A few seconds pass, and when I look at her, she’s squinting at me.
“If you don’t make it into the NHL? I don’t understand.”
“Will you want to be with me?” I demand, holding my hand out to her. “I’ll be a fucking failure. Some dude who couldn’t even get in the NHL like he thought he would.”
Her eyes narrow further, and she shakes her head in confusion. “Is there a chance you won’t?”
I look away, closing my eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t—”
She closes the distance between us, grabbing my face in her hands. “Ryan, yes, I will want to be with you no matter what because you are anything but a failure. You are smart, you are kind, and funny. Your heart is stunning. Ryan, you are my everything. The person who lifts me up after a shit day, the guy I want to share my joy with on a great day, and the only person I want to see when I wake up. I want you to make it into the NHL so, so bad, I do. Because you are absolutely amazing, and you want it so much. But if you don’t, then I won’t lie, I won’t be upset.”
“You won’t? But you’re so ambitious. You have all these plans—can you honestly be with someone who fails?”
“Yes, because we can make new plans together. Ryan, I’m not in love with you because of your goals or your dreams. I’m in love with you for you and the fact that you have dreams and goals. Don’t you see that?”
I swallow hard as I gaze into her eyes. It’s hard to believe, but her eyes are as clear as a promise. She wants me. Only me. Why? She could have the world, and she’s settling for me? “So it’s not ’cause I’m a sexy hot hockey player?”
Her lips curve as she slowly shakes her head. “No, not at all.”
“You really aren’t a normal girl.”
“You knew that coming into this,” she deadpans.
“I did.” I wrap my arms around her, pressing my nose to hers. “And I wouldn’t change you for anything.”
“Exactly. The same for me. I love you. Only you.”
I close my eyes, pressing our noses together as my heart explodes in my chest. “I love only you too.”
“Good,” she says, and when I open my eyes, she’s staring at me. “So don’t do this again. You hear me? If you make it, we’re doing this. If you don’t, we’re still doing this. I don’t know if you get it or not, but you’re basically stuck with me for as long as you want me.”
“And you want me.”
She nods, her eyes full of all the promise her little body can muster. “Which, for me, is forever.”
“Forever, you say?”
“Forever.”
I slide my fingers into her hair, cupping her by the back of the head. “That’s a really long time,” I say past the emotion that is choking me.
“Actually, it’s nowhere near enough time.”
God, she leaves me speechless.
“I fucking love you, Sofia.” Before she can tell me the same, I take her lips with mine.
As she melts into me and I melt into her, I don’t know what I want for the future.
But as long as she is with me, I’m ready.