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“Perhaps that’s on both of us” He ay enerous than my behavior merited

“I could have said that I love you and that I want a future together and that I’et that future”

“Okay, yeah, that’s a nice speech” He kissed ain “How about you try that next ti to bolt?”

“I don’t deserve you”

“Of course, you” Arthur started a flip response then trailed off as he frowned “Wait You’re serious You think that you, best person I’ve ever known, guy my parents would happily trade me for, doesn’t deserve me?”

“Good things never last,” I whispered, bunching up the comforter with my fist

“Yeah? Well, this one does” Arthur used his hand to make me look at hi of being happy You Not because you e, but you You are worth this”

And then I, Derrick Fox, decorated naval chief, really was crying I’d been afraid to hope for so long, afraid to trust in a future that ht not be here for me I’d almost lost h to reach for it

“Oh, fuck Now I’ve

“Didn’t even take sex this ti to use the joke to steady myself

“I love you You need to love you too” Arthur was apparently not done being serious, and his soleain

“I’ll try,” I promised “You make me want to try”

“Good, because you’re worth forever”

“So are you” I found histoo”

“You started it” Laughing, he poked me in my chest “And are you sure I’, crazy family”

“I love your big crazy family” I kissed him hard “But I love you more”

“Good And that’s another thing I love about you You kind of helpedeven when I assumed I didn’t”