“Lilly.” His voice is distraught. When I look him in the eyes, he says, “I . . . fuck, I shouldn’t say this, not like this, but I need you to know . . . I need you to understand how much I care for you.” My heart hammers, pounding so hard my pulse feels like fire in my veins. “Say it.” He wets his lips again and looks me in the eyes. “I . . . I love you, Lilly.”
