“Well, I know why now.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “It was because I didn’t have any. I was too afraid to let myself dream, but you changed all of that, Layne. You taught me to face my fears. And my biggest fear has always been needing someone.” I took a deep breath. “That someone is you, Layne. And it kills me that I realized it too late and it kills me even more that I had to hurt you to figure it out.” I placed her hands on my chest and took a tentative step closer, knowing this could be the last time she ever let me hold her. I inhaled her scent as I let my arms circle around her waist pulling her against me. “Please,” I whispered, my forehead resting against hers. “Please, tell me I haven’t broken this.”
Layne looked up at me, her eyes shining. “Wyatt, you really hurt me.”
I closed my eyes, feeling the tears slip out. “I know.”
“But you also taught me just how far I can bend without being broken.”
My eyes snapped open, taking in her encouraging expression as she quoted her song. I was afraid to believe my ears. “S-so, you don’t hate me?” I whispered.
The faintest smile tugged at her lips as she shook her head. “I want to, but I don’t think that’s possible.”
“It’s not?”
“No,” she sighed like she’d never been so exhausted in her life, but her smile only grew. “Love always trumps hate.”
“Love?” My eyes widened and I pulled back, needing to see her face. “Did you just say you love me?”
Layne nodded, her grin spreading into a breathtaking smile. “Now, shut up and kiss me.”
She didn’t have to ask me twice. I pulled her against me as my lips crashed against hers. And even though I wanted to savor this moment forever, there was nothing slow and tender about this kiss. Our lips were making up for lost time.
I lifted Layne off her feet, crushing her against me. She fit so perfectly in my arms. I never wanted to let her go. My heart felt like it was clawing out of my chest to get to hers and I had to remind myself to breathe as Layne’s lips coaxed mine to part.
She traced her fingers along my jaw, and I forgot myself, moaning into her mouth when her fingers tangled in my hair.
She pulled back, startled by the sound. “Sorry,” she whispered, her cheeks pinking.
I grinned. “Don’t be.” I leaned in, gently kissing the corner of her mouth. “Don’t be sorry for anything, ever.”
“Okay,” she said, breathlessly as she reached up to tangle her fingers in my hair again.
I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead to hers, trying to restrain another low moan as heat blazed through me at her touch.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” she whispered.
“You can do that as much as you like.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “You can do anything you want to me, Layne. I’m yours, completely.” A laugh bubbled free, because even in my wildest dreams, I’d never imagined tonight going so well. It made me brave. “I love you, Layne.
Her irises grew with passion and I found myself drowning in the gold flecks that danced in her eyes like tiny flames. I kissed her gently once more and pulled back to take in the full extent of her beauty.
She had tears of joy in her eyes when she looked up at me. “I love you, too,” she whispered.
And then her lips captured mine, making me wish we could exist like this forever—one heart, two sets of lips; never to part.
Chapter Sixty
Layne
It was late by the time I walked Wyatt back out to his car. We’d spent the rest of the night hanging out in my backyard, kissing under the stars and listening to music on his big cheesy boombox.
“I still can’t believe you put my song on the radio,” I whispered against his chest as he pulled me closer.
“Don’t you know?” he hooked a finger under my chin and gently tilted my face toward his. “I’d do anything for you, Penny Layne.”
I leaned in and grazed my lips against his again, loving the way his kiss could ignite every nerve in my body. I knew this was dangerous territory. Once we started kissing, we couldn’t stop. It had taken us twenty minutes just to make it from my front porch to his car. But now that we were here, I wanted to rewind the clock.