The Burns We Carry (Lost and Found in Wallowpine #1)

by Marae Good

“I heard you before, how you care about me—” “I said I love you.” He stepped toward me, not backing down from the path before him. “I care about you, yes—but I want to make sure it’s clear that I love you.” “Right.” Heat crawled over every inch of my skin. I glanced at my hand and picked at a nail, struggling to look him in the eye. “I think you know that sometimes I get wrapped up in my head, and I know it might be annoying, and it’s ridiculously insecure, but I might need you to remind me . . . that you love me.” “I can do that.” His voice was steady and clear. He stepped forward, the last of the distance between us dissolved. “I’ve stopped myself from saying it at least sixty times before now, so I doubt I’ll have any problem letting you know.” His hand found my hip, curving around my side. “I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to scare me, hoping some silly reason will make me think we won’t work.” His nose skimmed mine, his words hot on my cheek. “But the truth is, we both know we work, Shay. We’ve been doing this for weeks—the only difference is now we’re putting a name to it. This has been real since the moment I pulled you over.”