18. Soren
Chapter 18
Soren
I don’t hesitate. The words have been building up in me for days, for weeks, ever since the first moment I realized just how much Talia means to me. How much she’s meant to me. It’s been so hard to keep them inside, to fight the urge to tell her, to show her, because I’ve always been scared of getting hurt again. Losing Lisa was the hardest time in my life.
But I’m done with being scared, because I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.
She’s standing in front of me now, still holding herself back, the walls around her so tightly built up, and I can see the uncertainty in her eyes. The fear, the hesitation. But it doesn’t matter anymore. Not when I know what I feel.
“Talia,” I say her name, my voice steady, but my heart pounding like it’s trying to break free from my chest. “I love you.”
The words hang in the air, raw and real, and for a moment, the silence stretches between us, thick and heavy. She looks at me, her brow furrowed, her lips parted as though she’s about to say something—maybe an excuse, maybe a question, maybe a rejection. But I don’t give her the chance to say it.
“I love you,” I repeat, stepping closer, closing the distance between us. I can see it in her eyes—she wants to believe me, but she’s scared, and I don’t blame her. I can feel the same fear, but it doesn’t change what I feel.
“I’m not doing this because I think it’s some kind of game,” I continue, my voice rising with the intensity of the emotion that’s flooding my chest. “This is real. This... you ... it’s all real. You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. You and Marigold. The two of you are my world now.”
Her eyes flash, the war within her obvious—she’s fighting the truth that’s right in front of her. She opens her mouth, probably to say something, but I don’t let her.
“I know you’re scared,” I tell her, stepping even closer now, my breath mixing with hers. “Believe me, I’m scared too. But this isn’t something I’m willing to walk away from. Not you, not Marigold. You’ve changed my life in ways I didn’t even know were possible.”
She shakes her head, her voice small, her fear clear. “You don’t know me, Soren. You don’t know the real me. I’m not the person you think I am. This... it’s all happening so fast.”
I swallow, fighting to keep my emotions steady. “I do know you, Talia. I reach for her hand, holding it gently in mine, and she doesn’t pull away. That’s something. “I’m not saying this because I want to make things complicated. I’m saying this because it’s the truth. I knew I loved you the first time I saw you. The first time I really saw you.”
She looks at me, her eyes wide, as though she’s trying to process the words I’m saying. I stroke the back of her hand with my thumb, letting myself be vulnerable. Completely. “I don’t think you realize it, but from the moment I walked into my house and saw you sitting there with Marigold, I saw everything I didn’t know I needed. You were so strong, so capable. You didn’t even have to try. And in that moment, something clicked inside me. I knew I was already half in love with you.”
Her breath catches at my words, her eyes filling with something like disbelief, but there’s also a flicker of hope there.
“I know I didn’t realize it right away,” I continue, my voice quieter now, softer. “But I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. The way you are with Marigold... the way you stood up for her—for me... I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”
She pulls back slightly, but her hand stays in mine. She’s struggling, and I know she wants to believe me. I want her to. I don’t want to live in this fear anymore.
“Stop fighting it, Talia,” I whisper. “I don’t want to pretend. I don’t want to live in this false reality anymore. I love you, and I want us to be real. Together.”
I see the tears in her eyes, and I know this is hard for her. It’s hard for me too, but I can’t do this without her. I can’t let her go. I’ve already lost my heart to her, and if she’s willing to accept it, I want to give her everything.
She opens her mouth to speak, but this time, I don’t let her. I take her face in my hands, gently lifting her gaze to meet mine. “I don’t want to rush you, Talia. I just want you to know how I feel.”
She blinks, and for a second, I think she’s going to cry. But then something shifts in her eyes. She doesn’t say anything, but I see it—the change. She’s letting herself feel it. Letting herself believe me.
“I don’t know,” she whispers, the words fragile and vulnerable. “I don’t know if I’m ready.”
“You don’t have to be ready,” I reply, my voice steady. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Okay?”
She nods, her lips trembling as she holds my gaze, her heart open, vulnerable.
“I love you,” I say again, this time more quietly, more fiercely. I want her to know. I need her to know that there’s no doubt in my heart.
Her eyes search mine, and I see the walls starting to come down. And for the first time, I feel like we’re truly standing together, facing whatever comes next—not as strangers, or coworkers. Not as two people pretending—but as two people ready to build something real.
I kiss her hand softly, not wanting to let go. Not now. Not ever.
She shakes her head, looking away. “You don’t get it, Soren. You’re the kind of man I imagined for myself. The loyal, fierce lover but I’m afraid that it’s a facade. That I’m seeing just what I want to see. I wanted a love like my parents had. A love that’s fierce, that lasts through everything, that chooses each other even when it’s hard. And I don’t know if we’re both capable of that kind of love.”
Her words pierce through me. I feel the sting, but I understand. She wants a love that lasts, a love that’s true, not something that’s built on pretense or an arrangement. I know she wants to believe in something real, in something that won’t fade when the going gets tough. I get it. I’ve been closed off, unsure, and I’ve never really shown her that I’m capable of the kind of love she’s looking for.
“Do you think I don’t want that too?” I ask, my voice thick with emotion. “Do you think I don’t want to be the kind of man who loves you like that? The kind of man who chooses you, every single day, no matter what? I do. I want to be that man, Talia. I want to love you like that. And I’m sorry for not showing you that sooner.”
She looks at me then, her eyes wide, her lips trembling, and I can see the tears threatening to spill over. I want to hold her, but I know she needs to hear me say how real this is.
“I know I’ve been scared, and that I’ve kept myself locked away, and I don’t blame you for thinking this isn’t real. But I’m done with pretending. I love you. And I’m not going to walk away. Not now. Not ever. We’ll take it one step at a time. But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her breath catches, and she looks up at me, her eyes wide, searching mine for the truth. I’m not going to back down. I’m not going to let her go. I’m not going to give up on us.
I reach for her cheek. “Let me show you, Talia. Let me show you how real this is. How much I love you.”
And then, for the second time, I lean in. I kiss her not just with passion, but with everything I’ve been holding back—the love, the longing, the hope. I kiss her like I’ve never kissed anyone before, like this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.
When our lips meet, it’s like coming home. It’s a promise. It’s the beginning of something beautiful.
When we finally break apart, I see the truth and certainty that’s been building between us in her eyes. She’s not scared anymore. She’s not running away. She’s here. With me. And I’m not going to let her go.
“I love you too,” Talia finally says with a soft sigh, and the tightness in my chest uncurls. “Oh, Soren. I love you so much that it feels like my heart might explode. I love you.”
I take her face mine, kissing her forehead in wonder.
I’m home.
***
The next morning, we wake together in bed to the sound of Marigold’s voice, calling us from the living room, her excitement spilling out in every word.
“Mommy! Daddy! Come look!”
And as I hear her laughter, as I see her little face lighting up with joy, I realize something. This is where I’m meant to be. This is my family.
I turn to Talia, and for the first time, I see her smiling—really smiling. Her eyes are soft, full of warmth, full of love. And I know, without a doubt, that this is where we belong.
Together.