He met my long-winded soliloquy with complete and utter silence. Not only that but Asher was stone-still under me. I didn’t squirm, I didn’t start to panic, I didn’t wind myself up and let my mind wander. This was Asher—my Asher. I didn’t need him to say anything. I could feel his strong arms around me. I could feel him readying himself to shield me from all the pain that I had bottled up in my chest.

I relaxed into him and waited.

Though he didn’t make me wait long.

“You amaze me,” he whispered. “Totally and completely undo me. I thought it was your hope that made me fall in love with you. But now I’m thinking it’s your honesty. But the thing about you is, I know that tomorrow or the next day you’ll do something or say something or show me a new side to you and I’ll think that’s the reason I love you. With you, the possibilities are endless. They’re endless and so fucking beautiful.”

Did he just…did he just say…he loves me?

I didn’t know it was possible to have a broken heart while at the same time that same heart was so full of happiness.

“You love me?”

“Yup.”

“I just asked if you loved me and you yupped me?”

“Were you hoping I’d say no, I didn’t love you?”

“No, I was hoping you’d tell me you loved me again.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Since my cheek was still resting on his chest I heard and felt him suck in a breath and I smiled. “There’s something else you should know.”

“What’s that, baby?”

“I don’t care how fast it is, I don’t care who thinks we’re crazy, but I’m moving to Idaho. I’m living my life on my terms. I’m living it to the fullest and I’m doing it by your side. I want to help you finish your house. I want to visit Letty’s bookstore. I want to watch Brooklyn record more chapters. I want to get to know Mrs. Simpson. I want to stuff my stomach full of lemon poppyseed muffins. I want to meet the rest of your friends. I want to learn how to ski. I want to go fishing with you. I want to have a ton of kids and grow old with you. And the reason I don’t have to care, the reason I’m able to throw caution to the wind and follow my heart is because I know you’ll be there to protect my heart.”

Asher loosened his arms and rolled us to the side so we were face-to-face.

“You’re moving to Idaho? In here with me?”

“Yup.”

He slowly blinked then pushed the top of his head into my chest and busted out laughing. His body shook so hard with it that I shook right along with him. The only thing better would’ve been if I could’ve seen him smiling. But the absolute best was—I could feel his happiness.