Now he was smiling. Very big and very wide. I felt my own mouth turning up into a smile. Without warning, Jude threw himself at me, kissing me hard over every part of my face. “Say it again,” he said when he came up for air. His grin was still pulling at the sides of his mouth. “I love you.” “One more time.” “I’m not a performing monkey, no.” He laughed and kissed me again, and I kissed him back. But against his lips, unable to stop myself, I whispered it once more.
