Page 63 of Dare You

"Is it just me, or does your chest feel tight?" he asked.

"Yes. When you're with me, I feel like this, but in a happy, excitable way. When we're not together, it's either a half-full feeling or a suffocating kind of tightness."

"Exactly," he agreed, took my hand and laced his fingers in mine. "How are you feeling? About us, I mean."

"Better. Still getting used to the idea, but scared to death I may fall hard."

"Have no fear. Because I've already fallen, so I'll be there to catch you." I grinned.

"Now that is cheesy." I chuckled, freeing my spare hand. I brushed his hair from his eyes and stared into them. That tight feeling he spoke about was back; I couldn't believe how much he wanted me because in my eyes he was everything I imagined made up the ideal man.

"What are you thinking?"

"How good-looking you are," I replied honestly.

"Good, remember that. I'm worth hanging on to."

"Is that what I'm doing? Hanging on to you?"

"No, I meant it from your perspective, because I don't want to fuck this up. When you left North Dakota, I felt nervous you'd change your mind about us before I got home." Bringing my hand to his lips he pressed them softly against it and snuggled me into his chest.

"The thought never crossed my mind," I told him, quietly.

This was the first time Sawyer had voiced insecurities of his own, and I felt sad my past had impacted his confidence in this way. I vowed silently to do better as I lay listening to his steady heartbeat until I eventually fell asleep.