Page 134 of The Fake Out
He shifts under me, moving so we face each other, hands framing my jaw while he wears the most urgent, earnest, furious expression. He tilts me up so he can look into my eyes.
“He’s wrong, Hartley.” Our eyes hold, emotion flickering in his gaze. “He’s so fucking wrong.”
My heart beats hard in my chest. I want to believe him. When we’re sitting here, wrapped up in each other like nothing else exists, I want to believe he’ll never grow sick of me or discard me.
I think I’d just die if that happened.
What have I gotten myself into? Panic spikes as I stare up into Rory’s eyes. There’s no way to extract myself from this without getting hurt.
“He’s wrong.” Rory looks down at me like I have to believe him. “He was never good enough for you, and he knew it. You’re perfect, Hartley.”
Something drums inside me, urgent, insistent, desperate to get out. This is agonizing, keeping the feelings inside like this.
“It’s not fake anymore,” I whisper. “Is it?”
Rory shakes his head. “No, Hartley. It isn’t.” His gaze moves over my face like he’s trying to take in every detail about me, and he swallows like he’s nervous. “It hasn’t been fake for me for a long time.”
There isn’t enough air in the room, and I can’t look away.
Connor said I wasn’t enough, but maybe he’s wrong. Rory sure looks at me like I’m enough. I want this, whatever we’re doing. I want all of this.
“Can I tell you something?” he asks, tucking my hair behind my ear.
My pulse trips at his earnest and nervous expression, but I nod, biting my lip.
He searches my eyes, sucking in a breath. “I love you.”
The world stops, fading away, and it’s just me and Rory.
“What?” I suck a shaky breath in, like I’m scared, but I’m not.
“I love you.” The long column of his throat works as he watches me, hand slipping back into my hair.
Two months ago, this would have been the last thing I wanted to hear. Now, I want to hear Rory say those words a thousand times.
“Don’t look so surprised, Hartley.” His smile is gentle and crooked. “How could I not fall for you? It was always only a matter of time.”
My lips part, but I’m speechless. The girl from years ago who had her heart smashed can’t believe how insanely lucky I am to have found Rory. And at the same time, I’m terrified it won’t last.
“You don’t need to say anything.” He laughs quietly at my silence. “I know you’ll say it back eventually.”
He says it like he knows. He says it like he can see right through me, like he believes I’ll catch up.
A glow expands through me. “So cocky,” I murmur.
I’ve been avoiding the emotion, turning away from it, but I can’t ignore it anymore.
I’m head over heels in love with Rory Miller. I’ve never said the words to a guy. With Connor, I always sensed they’d be unwelcome, so I kept them to myself.
That was a watered-down version of love, though, and Rory’s nothing like Connor.
He’s hurt someone before, an ugly voice whispers in my head. He didn’t mean to, but he was careless with Ashley and broke her heart.
He could do the same to me, even if he does love me. Even if I love him back and we’re wildly happy together. People fall out of love all the time.
My mind goes to yesterday, when Rory said that Jamie was like his brother. They’ll be in each other’s lives forever, which means Rory will be inmylife forever.
That would break me, if it didn’t work out after I gave him everything and then had to see him all the time.