Catching Feelings (Orleans University, #2)

by Maren Moore

Of course, I remembered. Because when it comes to her, I pay attention. To all of it. All the little details. I know that she hates when her socks don’t match and that she loves the smell of books. Grapes disgust her, and she likes to paint her nails every week and really fucking hates the commercials on TV with the sad animals and that Sarah McLachlan song because they always make her cry.

“And this is what you do when you love someone. You stay. You show up for them.” He leans in closer, still holding my gaze. “I will be here to hold the weight when it’s too much. I’ll be your strength when you have none left. I’ll hold you, and I’ll take all the shit you wanna give me. I’ll be whatever you need as long as I’m with you. Let me love you, Viv. Let me be the one to take care of you and to be there for you so you’re never alone. I love you so fucking much that I can hardly breathe sometimes. I just need you to let me love you.”

Fuck that, Viv. Fuck always putting yourself last. Let me take care of you for a change. Let me put you first. Let me fucking love you. I was made to love you, and I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Over baseball, over the minors. Over it all. This is what I’m sure of. I should have told you that last night, but I was scared to. I was scared that you’d run, that it would be too much for you to hear. But tonight made me realize that you run when the world gets to be too much, but I’m coming after you, baby. I’ll chase you to the ends of the goddamn earth.”