Chapter 137

"I was in love with you. I am in love with you. How could I have just let you go into the world all alone after the tragedy that happened to Kathryn? How could I?" Linc asks, cradling my chin like he is seriously wanting an answer to his question. It is the first time we are breaching the topic of that time in our lives. And it makes me breathless with all the possibilities. To know that all my self doubt and hate because of how I felt about my stepfather wasn't just one sided. He was probably beating himself up worse for it. I was never alone.

"You loved me? Back then?" I ask in a quiet whisper, like there was an audience behind us that shouldn't hear what we are discussing. That is how taboo the notion still is in my head. Despite how far we have come with eachother.

"You have not been listening to me." Linc says again, teasingly, I feel like my heart could tear open. He smiles, he leans forward, angles his mouth over mine, poised to kiss me, I can't help the way my heart is