I sat there on his bed while he went and got dressed. I love him and I almost just told him that. I am such a fucking idiot. I realized it today when we were in the car. I didn't just freak out because I cared about him, I freaked out because I loved him. And the thought of something happening to him scared the life out of me. It scared me more than the thought of something happening to me. Which is why I stayed behind and waited for him.

Maybe I should have kept running and gotten out as he asked, but if I could do it again, I'd still wait for him. I snapped out of my thoughts when he came out of the bathroom in sweatpants and as usual, no shirt. Instead of sitting on the bed, he went and pulled his curtains open before lying on the couch, beckoning me to come over. I walked over to him and he held my hand.

"What?" I asked, chuckling slightly. He tugged my hand and I straddled him, drawing circles on his chest while he played with the fingers of my other hand. "Hey, it's a full moon," I laughed while looking up, dismissing the city lights for the moon.

I looked down at him and he was completely zoned out.

"Hey," I squeezed his hand and he snapped out of it, his eyes meeting mine.

It feels different. Everything between us just feels... different.

"What are you thinking?" I asked, lying down on top of him.

"Nothing," he shook his with a smile.

"Bet," I rolled my eyes, "But you know you're just gonna end up telling me eventually," I shrugged, "You always blurt it out in the end," I chuckled.

"Hmm," he said while biting the inside of his cheek.

"I see the gears turning in your hand," I pressed a finger to the side of his temple, "You can tell me," I urged.

"You're going to think I'm fucking crazy," he chuckled.

"No, I'm not," I laughed while running my hand through his hair, resting my chin on his chest.

"Should I just tell you?" he asked and I nodded in response. "Okay," he sighed, "Emma, I think-" he cleared his throat, "I think I love you."

Am I dreaming? I think I'm dreaming.

I stared up at him, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Like, I think I'm in love with you," he sighed, his tongue rolling on the inside of his cheek.

"You do?" I asked, absolutely dumbfounded.

"Yeah," he nodded, "I do."

I didn't say anything because I'm stupid.

"I know you're gonna say it's too soon, and you're gonna think I'm delusional but-"

"I love you too," I interrupted him.

"You do?" he looked up at me, blinking twice in surprise.

"Yeah," I chuckled while nodding, "I do." I licked my lips that suddenly felt dry like my throat. "I um- I think I realized it in the car today. When I got mad and I just- I realized that I wasn't just mad because I care about you. I was mad because I love you," I explained.

"When were you gonna tell me?" he smirked.

"When I was a little more sure, but I was not going to wait around like last time. I didn't want to risk it and regret it this time," I chuckled, "I'm glad you said it first though, it was very encouraging," I smirked.

"I bet," he said before pulling me down into a kiss.

I love Nick Heartwell.

"All right, today we're driving around Ocean Drive, stopping to look at Freedom tower at sunset, and having dinner at Art Deco District," Zoey sighed while sitting beside me. We're at lunch. We're hitting three spots today since we're running out on time. The wedding is at the end of this week and the swing is finally kicking in. Today is Monday. The wedding is on Thursday and Madeline is officially freaking out.

This wedding will be the death of me.

"Can I stand up?" I asked while Nick drove around. We're sharing a ride with Landon and Zo and I'm sitting shotgun.

"No," he chuckled while shaking his head.

"Please?" I begged.

"Emma, no," he laughed.

"I'm doing it," I took my seatbelt off and opened the sunroof, standing up and sticking my head out.

"There are cops at the cross-section, sit back down when we get there," he said. I grinned while we whizzed past the hotels with people walking all around the place. "All right, the party's over," he said while nudging my leg. I huffed but sat back down with a pout nonetheless.

We drove around for hours, Landon and Nick switching every so often. We passed the same spot multiple times and listened to music in the car, singing along, at one time, Zo and I dancing in the back.

After a long time in the car, the sun began setting and we began heading to Freedom tower. I didn't understand why we were going to Freedom tower and then coming back here for Art Deco District but I guess we can't be at both places in one for the sunset.

Landon pulled up and we all hopped out of the car, meeting the others by the tower.

"It looks so pretty, doesn't it?" Zoey asked while walking beside me.

"Yeah, it does," I nodded.

We headed over to the sidewalk near the tower and Zo and I sat on the bench while Landon and Zo went around, talking. "I'm not the only one who's noticed you guys being more open with your PDA, right?" she asked.

I crossed one leg over the other while sighing, "No?" I said but it came out like a question.

"So, what's up? Are you ready to be his girlfriend?" she raised her eyebrows at me.

"Nothing's up, we're just..." I trailed off, "I'm not his girlfriend, Zo. I don't intend to be," I sighed.

"Why? Don't you see a future for you two?" she questioned.

"I do, of course, I do. I'm just too scared," I admitted.

"Emma, he didn't cheat. He wouldn't do that to you," she gave me a pointed look.

"You don't know that," I turned to her.

"What if you cheat on him?" she arched a brow at me.

"I wouldn't," I huffed.

"The same way he wouldn't," she shrugged, "Just tell me this, what are you gonna do if he asks you to be his girlfriend?" she interrogated.

"I don't know," I mumbled.

"Well, you might wanna figure it out because I think he's falling in love with you." That's right, I didn't tell her.

"He is," I sighed in defeat.

"What?" she asked, confused.

"He told me he loved me last night," I turned to her.

"And you didn't tell me? What did you say?" she asked while smacking my arm.

"I said I loved him back, I do," I shrugged.

"Then why aren't you willing to be his girlfriend? I just don't get it, don't you trust him?" she questioned.

"I trust him but I don't trust Rachel," I gave her a pointed look.

"Rachel?" she asked.

"She's coming to the wedding. She's with Liam and he's definitely bringing her, there's no way he isn't. I don't want to call him my boyfriend while she's here because I don't know what she's gonna do. I wanna wait till we get back home," I explained.

"So if he asks you once we get back you'll say yes?" she thought out loud.

"Yeah," I nodded.

-----

We were at dinner at a restaurant in Art Deco District and per usual, I finished my drink before my food. I was just sitting there, staring at the empty glass while waiting for my food to cool down.

"Do you want another one?" Nick laughed while nudging me.

I shook my head, still staring at the glass.

"Okay, I'm getting you another one," he said before calling a waiter over. "Can we please get one more lemon iced tea, thank you," he smiled before the waiter walked away. "It doesn't take that much to ask them for one more," he laughed while turning to me.

I shrugged while blowing on my food before eating. Mr. Johnson and Madeline's dad began discussing plans for tomorrow so I began listening in.

Basically, tomorrow we aren't going anywhere because we have the rehearsal dinner the day after tomorrow and they want full time to prepare for it. So as for tomorrow, we've got nothing to do so we're free to go wherever we want and then Wednesday night we have the rehearsal dinner, and Thursday afternoon is the wedding.

Everyone spent the rest of dinner talking, laughing, discussing plans, calming Madeline down who began freaking out at so much wedding talk.

"Madeline, it's okay," I chuckled while handing her some more water.

Then she began freaking out more when William's mom told her that she can't see him till the wedding that entire day.

I leaned back, sighing in defeat while William pulled her away.

"She's really that scared?" Nick asked while looking at me.

"I mean, she is getting married," I shrugged.

Wow, she is getting married.

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Chapter thirty-four