She spun on her heel and started to walk away, and he grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her toward him, pressing a kiss on her mouth.

And oh, she wanted to sink into it. Into him. Let that kiss swallow up all the words that they’d spoken. Even her words of love. To go back and pretend that the past few minutes were nothing.

That this kiss was everything.

The only thing.

But she couldn’t do that.

She struggled against him, hitting his chest with her closed fist. “Don’t kiss me. Don’t kiss me if you don’t love me. Don’t touch me if you don’t love me. Hell, don’t even talk to me if you don’t love me.” She was shaking, rage pouring through her like a river. “Because I deserve better than that. Because I had to figure out what giving everything meant. And then once I did I offered it to you. I changed. And I dug deep. And I found pieces of myself I didn’t even know were there for you. And you want to stand there and tell me everything I don’t know. Want to tell me what I want, and how you have less growing to do. That’s bullshit, and I’m not here for it.”

“If you really did it for me, Jamie,” he said, his voice rough, “that was your first mistake. Because I didn’t ask you to.”

“I didn’t need you to,” she said. She lifted her chin, her expression defiant. “Some people don’t need to be asked.”

“Jamie, you’re going to be a hell of a lot happier if you go do your barrel racing, live your dream, and then when you’re finished, find a guy your own age.”

“Oh, you think that I want your advice? Is that what you’ve been thinking this is? I give you advice about horses, you give me life advice that I didn’t even ask for? That’s not how this is going. That’s not...that’s not what this is. I love you. You big, stupid, scared...asshole idiot.”

“If that’s what you think I am, what you know I am, shouldn’t you be happy to let me go?”

“No, jackass. I love you knowing that you’re all that. I love you, and it’s not about life experience. I thought... When we were out camping I thought that I could have happily stayed out there with you forever. And then it hit me—that’s the problem. I think anyone could be in love for life if they were just separated out of the real world. Away from family. Away from problems. Away from work. Conflicting schedules, and all of that. But I love you here. I love you even though I’m mad that you didn’t include me when you went to talk to your half brother’s mom. Because I would’ve helped you. And even if I couldn’t have helped you, I would have been there for you. Because that’s what you do when you’re in love. When you’re really in love.”