Page 25

Peter

Abby strode into the kitchen, looking like a woman on a mission.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, hurrying over to her. “Did someone say something?”

I couldn’t imagine what anyone in that room would say that was offensive, but then again, Abby was still a bit unsure about me. She’d practically run away screaming when I told her I loved her last night. Fortunately, I’d distracted her with orgasms.

Abby shook her head.

“I’m fine, but can we talk outside for a minute? It’s important.”

“Sure.”

Ignoring the curious eyes of my family members, I grabbed our coats off the rack and followed her out into the yard. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, she started pacing back and forth. I followed her, intercepting her. Placing my hands on her shoulders to keep her in one place, I met her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Abby?” I asked again.

“Last night, you said you loved me...” She paused, almost as if she was doubting that it happened.

“Yeah, I did.”

“I, um, I’m sorry I freaked out about it. I know I didn’t respond the way you were hoping I would.”

I slid my hands down her shoulders to interlace her fingers with mine.

“You get to feel your own emotions and be true to yourself, Abby,” I told her. “It’s okay if you’re not feeling the same. I just wanted you to know where I stand, and to declare my intentions.”

She stared up at me for a long moment. “It seems ridiculous, us feeling like this at our age. I mean, we’re not teenagers, we shouldn’t be feeling so strongly so soon.”

“Who says?” I asked. “The way I look at it is that I’ve waited a long time to find you, Abby. And now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to waste any time. I love you and I want to be with you until I take my last breath. But I also don’t want to push you. These things need to go at their own pace. I’m willing to wait for you, for as long as it takes.”

“It’s not that you’re pushing me,” she said slowly. “I’m just...”

“Scared?”

“Yeah, I guess. I’ve never been in love before. My entire life, not one person has ever told me they love me.” She blinked like she was trying not to cry. “I just, I don’t know if I can believe it.”

“I’ll believe it for the both of us then,” I vowed.

She nodded like she was making a decision. Looking up, she whispered so softly that I almost missed it.

“I think I love you too.”

My eyes widened. “Did you really just say you love me?”

“Yeah. I mean, I think about you all the time, and I feel like I breathe easier when we’re together. When I close my eyes, I can picture us growing old together. It’s like you’re a missing piece in my life that I never knew wasn’t there. So, is that love?”

“I’d say it is.” I couldn’t help the big goofy smile that lit up my face.

“So, we’re in love then?” she clarified. “We’re a couple who’s in love?”

“Yep, we sure are.”

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her until the moment was ruined – by my brother of course.

“Hey, break it up! We’re tryin’ to have a Christmas here! Now get your asses inside so we can open presents.”

As we walked back to the house, my arm around Abby’s shoulders, I whispered, “Remind me later, I have a present for you back at the house.”