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“All his life,” he told me without hesitation

I didn’t kno to take that I knew he loved me, but was he in love with me? Had he ever been?

Muttering so under his breath, Luca stood Carefully, he placed the baby in her bassinet and then turned and trapped asped at the pain in their depths, but I was too caught up in the confusion clouding my head to dare reach for him

In two giant steps, he was leaning over me with his hands braced on either side ofet your love back after what I did?’

“I love you,” I whispered

“Fuck, I know that But will you ever be in love with ain?” Tears filled his eyes “I know I fu—screwed up But I swear I’ve tried to h I don’t kno to ive you ti you forever, I don’t know if I can”

He pressed his forehead towith ht I would die froyou like ays dreaton showed up, and I

realized that hy I’d been spared I went through hell for so long because I needed to be here when you and Love Bug needed me most”

“Luca”

“Shh,” he growled, as several more of his tears landed on my cheeks “Just be quiet for a minute” He kissed me, but it was over before his lips could even fully touch ton’s death, I kept telling ain in a year, ten, twenty, nothing elseat my side I knew deep down you loved ed and aain I told myself to be patient and one day you would look at me like you used to”

“Luca,” I tried again, but he kissed me quiet once more

“I said hush, wo away our mixed tears “I told myself so many times that if I told you how much I loved you before you were ready, it would ruin everything But I can’t be patient anymore I almost lost you today, and I can’t contain these words, these feelings that have been choking me for months I love you, Violet I’m in love with you I have been row up, to realize what are the rown up now, and I’ive me a chance Please…” A sob choked out of him, and he clenched his eyes closed as he pressed his forehead toforever”

“Luca…”

A knock on the door cut rowled in frustration as it opened and a woman walked in with a clipboard in her hands “Knock-knock, Mommy and Daddy,” she said with a smile as she came toward us “Sorry to bother you, but I promise not to take up too much ti is correct for the baby’s birth certificate”

“Oh,” I muttered “I haven’t—”