Chapter 35 Say It Again
Amelia POV
I couldn't breathe properly.
Not because something was wrong.
But because everything was happening at once.
Too fast.
Too real.
He was standing right in front of me.
Close enough that I could feel his presence without even moving.
Close enough that if I leaned forward even slightly...
I knew exactly what would happen.
And that terrified me.
Because this wasn't supposed to happen.
None of this was.
"This doesn't make sense," I said quietly.
My voice sounded smaller than I felt.
"It does," he replied.
"No, it doesn't."
I shook my head.
"This started as fake."
"I know."
"It was supposed to be controlled."
"I know."
"It was supposed to end."
Silence.
Then,
"Do you want it to end?"
My heart stopped.
The question hung between us.
Simple.
Direct.
Impossible.
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Then whispered,
"No."
There.
It was out.
Everything was out.
And now there was no hiding anymore.
His expression changed.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
Like something settled.
Like he already knew.
"I don't either."
My chest tightened so fast it almost hurt.
"What."
My voice barely came out.
"I don't want it to end," he said.
Clear.
Calm.
Certain.
Like this wasn't a question for him.
Like it never was.
I stared at him.
Trying to process it.
Trying to understand how we got here.
"You're serious," I said.
"Yes."
"That doesn't make sense."
"It does."
"No, it doesn't," I repeated. "You didn't even like me at the beginning."
A small pause.
Then,
"That changed."
My heart did something dangerous.
"When."
"I'm not sure."
That felt honest.
Too honest.
"But it did," he added.
Silence filled the room again.
But this time it felt different.
Softer.
Warmer.
Like something had shifted and there was no going back.
I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
And for the first time...
I wasn't trying to protect myself.
"I think I've liked you for a while," I admitted.
The words came out quietly.
But they felt right.
"I just didn't want to admit it."
"Why."
"Because this wasn't real."
"And now."
I hesitated.
Then said,
"I don't know what this is anymore."
Another step closer.
Now there was barely any space between us.
His voice dropped slightly.
"It's real."
My breath caught.
"You're very confident."
"I'm certain."
"That's worse."
Something in his expression softened.
And then...
He smiled.
Not small.
Not hidden.
A real smile.
And I froze.
Completely.
Because it still affected me.
So much.
"Stop doing that," I said softly.
"Doing what."
"That."
"What."
"Smiling."
"Why."
"Because I forget how to function."
That almost made him laugh.
Almost.
"You should do it more," I added quietly.
Silence.
Then I said it.
Without thinking.
Without filtering.
"You look really good when you smile."
My brain immediately reacted.
Oh my god.
Why did I say that.
Where did that come from.
Why do I keep doing this.
I covered my face for a second.
"I need to stop talking."
"You don't."
"Yes, I do."
"No."
I dropped my hands slowly.
And looked at him again.
Big mistake.
Because now he was even closer.
If that was even possible.
My heart was beating so loud I was sure he could hear it.
"This is a bad idea," I whispered.
"Why."
"Because I'm going to fall even more."
"You already have."
I froze.
"...That was bold."
"It was honest."
That was worse.
Much worse.
Silence.
Then quieter,
"Say it again."
My heart stopped.
"...What."
"What you said earlier."
I blinked.
"...No."
"Why."
"Because that was already embarrassing."
"It wasn't."
"It was for me."
A small pause.
Then softer,
"Say it again."
And this time...
I couldn't say no.
"I don't want this to end," I whispered.
His gaze didn't leave mine.
"It won't."
My chest tightened again.
Too many emotions.
Too much happening.
Too real.
And then...
He leaned closer.
Slow.
Careful.
Like he was giving me time to stop him.
I didn't.
Of course I didn't.
This time when his lips touched mine...
It wasn't an accident.
It wasn't rushed.
It wasn't confusing.
It was soft.
Intentional.
Real.
My hand instinctively moved to his shirt again.
Not to stop myself from falling this time.
Just to hold on.
And for the first time...
I didn't feel like I was losing control.
I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
A small voice interrupted everything.
"Again."
We both froze.
Pulled apart slightly.
And looked down.
Noah.
Of course.
Standing there.
Watching us very seriously.
I let out a small, breathless laugh.
"Oh my god."
Noah looked between us.
Then smiled slightly.
"Again."
I covered my face.
"I can't do this."
Dominic looked down at him.
Then back at me.
And for the first time...
He actually looked amused.
"I think he approves."
"That is not helping."
Noah grabbed my hand.
Then Dominic's.
And pulled them together.
"Stay."
My heart melted.
Completely.
And just like that...
Everything felt right