“You can’t mean those things.” “But I do. If you had not taught that silly, flighty Emily Riverdale to dream of love, I would have had no chance of believing in it, myself. I would not have come here. I would not have met you. Even if I had, I would have been too arrogant and hardheaded to ever let you close.” He dropped his head, burying his face in her neck. “Izzy, I owe you everything. You are my heart. My very life. If you leave me . . . ” His voice broke. Her heart swelled. She slid her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “If you’ll only let me hold you, I won’t ever let you go.”
