Chapter 68: Reaction

I saw a tenderness in his gaze and in the way he held me. He cared for me. No, he loved me.

"I heard you," I said, a small smile appearing on my lips. "And?" Luke asked, waiting for me to say the magic words back. Why do you love me?

He had to wait a little while longer as I tried to process it. I was hanging out in his arms while he stood knee deep in mud. This wasn't exactly how he had planned his declaration to go.

He told me he loved me and then watched as I went flying on a zipline through the air, spinning round and round like a propeller. My head was still spinning, partly from the physical trauma but also from all the emotion stirring inside of me. I now know what it feels like to be a sock in a washing machine. He shifted slightly but kept his grip around me firm. He was being patient, in a ditch.

I pinched myself. I guess I'm not dreaming. It's too weird of a dream to dream I think.