“Totally.” I gave a happy sigh as we settled back onto the bed together, skin to skin.

“Jasper?” Milo sounded serious, even for him, and I hoped we weren’t about to renew the George debate.

“Yeah?” I said warily.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t around your sophomore year.”

Regret was way easier to navigate than irritation, and I’d been doing a fair bit of thinking on this myself.

“I’m not.” My voice was firm.

“No?” Frowning, his face creased with way more hurt than I’d intended.

“I wasn’t ready. Not for you. Not for this. You weren’t the only one who needed to grow up.” I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I needed every breakup and hookup that went nowhere, but that time post–high school to discover who I was truly meant to be had been key, had led me here to this place where it was possible to forgive, to move on, and to build something real and solid and distinctly more lasting than a teenage fling.

“Yeah. I get that.” Milo held me close, his chest hairs tickling my back. “But I can still wish I’d been there for you.”

“You’re sweet.” I sagged against him. “I could stay exactly like this the rest of the night.”

“And you’re stealing all my best lines.”

“That’s the best you’ve got?” I pretended to scoff.

He turned me slightly in his embrace so he could peer into my eyes. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

My next breath strangled in my throat, and I made a choking noise. “Okay. That’s…”

“Too much?” His cheeks took on a bright-pink stain and he sounded like he’d been running.

“No.” I stretched to give him a gentle kiss, trying to put my awe and appreciation into it because God knew I lacked the words. And courage. “Never too much.”

“Good.” Milo soundly kissed me back, putting what felt like his whole heart into it. Mine was so full I wasn’t sure I could stand it. I’d wanted to hear this. Needed it. And still this fluttery voice kept saying it wouldn’t last. He’d change his mind or take a different Jasper-less path out of his current situation. He’s just grateful, the voice added, a chill racing up my spine. He was undoubtedly waiting for me to say it back, but my worries kept coming instead.

“But this is what I meant earlier. About the future—”

“Which we are not thinking about right now.” Voice commanding, Milo pulled back to hold me by the shoulders.

“But—”