“No, he didn’t get to come back. He was waiting in the office. He heard the parents complaining while they waited for me to regain control.” Annika sighed. “They pretty much blamed me for everything.”

Daniel knew that Annika wanted nothing more than to impress her parents. Which was part of the reason she was afraid to tell them about him. He pushed that thought aside for now.

A sob escaped her, and Daniel found himself angry at her father for not believing in her. “So now he’s confident that I’m a failure.” She sniffled.

“You’re not a failure. You’re a great teacher.”

“You don’t know that.” She burrowed deeper into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to protect her. But her pain came from within.

“Well, not firsthand, but you’re good at everything.”

She pulled back to give him a withering look.

“Fine.” He pulled her close again. “I don’t actually know, but...” He paused, holding her tight. Why shouldn’t he actually know? He could go to the school, as an observer, or for Career Day. He knew she was great, but maybe she would believe him if he actually saw her teach.

“Fine, I’ll come for Career Day. Talk about how awesome it is to be an NP.” He spoke quickly, before he changed his mind. How was he going to walk into that building?

Annika tensed and pulled back. “No. You don’t want to do that.”

“Why not?”

“You do remember where I work?” She stared at him. “I never should have told you Sajan was coming—”

“This has nothing to do with Sajan.” Well, mostly nothing. His stomach was in knots, but at the moment he didn’t care. He placed his hand on the side of her head. “I would do anything for you.” It was completely true. It didn’t matter about the building. He would do anything to make her happy. “I love you.”

“But Daniel, you don’t have to—wait, what did you say?” Her nose and eyes were swollen and red rimmed, her cheeks were flushed, but she smiled and looked at him with such pure love that he wanted to freeze that moment in time.

Heat rose to his face. “I said I would come to Career—”

“No, not that.”

A silly, dopey grin took over his face. “I said that I love you.”

She gave him her crooked smile. “This was the most romantic way you could think of to tell me you loved me?” She looked around. “Standing in the back of a bar while I cry?”

“It’s perfect.” Daniel leaned down and kissed her. “Don’t complain. I said I would come to your class.”

She pulled back. “You don’t have to...just the offer is enough...”