I Love You

“Sorry to ask you to wait in this cold.” Ria said as we began our short walk across the frozen campus.

“Don’t worry about it.” I responded, without really thinking.

While I didn’t enjoy the cold, it was well worth it for this moment.

And I feel much warmer now anyways.

“You were incredible today.”

The moments of Ria’s dominant victory were running on repeat in my mind, and had been since the game ended. This wasn’t uncommon for me after watching a particularly spectacular performance in any sport, but it carried more weight than it normally did this time.

“Thanks.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding that I’d also been incredible today.

Part of me wanted to brush it off instantly, subconsciously comparing our two contributions to the day’s activities and judging mine to be significantly less impactful, but the look on her face seemed to be warning me of exactly that mindset.

The more that we’d interacted lately, the more that I’d been able to understand the true extent of her appreciation for my job. Not only did she insist on not getting in the way of my work, but often praised what I did and reviewed my latest articles, giving me feedback.

Seeing how important it was to her not only delighted me, but also renewed a sense of pride in my role that I hadn’t necessarily noticed was missing.

I guess I did do well today, and I shouldn’t naturally diminish my efforts, especially when someone so close to me appreciated them so much.

“You’re no fair.” I said, feeling a smile betray my words.

“I know.” She responded, leaning close to me so that we walked as one through the now dark night.

You wouldn’t think I’d be able to feel the warmth of her touch through our layers of winter clothing, but I swear her warmth was all that I could feel at that moment.

The sound of her tired feet landing heavier than usual with each step, the view of her shadow stretching and shrinking as nearby lights approached and left us, and the comforting temperature of the air that bends to her will was all that existed in my world.

I’ve never lost myself in anything like this.

Even in the dozens of hours where I lost track of time in my work, thinking that it was the epitome of a focused mind, not once did that come close to this.

Nothing I’d ever felt before could compare, and I wasn’t sure anything ever could.

“I love this.”

The words filled the air between us, and only after seeing her mix of surprise and pure joy did I realize that they’d come out of my lips.

“Me too.” She said, her hand tightening around mine, and her eyes asking for my gaze.

I obliged and held her close, both in body and spirit. The next words out of my mouth would be intentional, and I wanted her to know.

“I love you.”

—------------------------------------

Not once in my life did I act quicker than when I heard those words. Not in the countless games where I’d set the eyes of the spectators alight. Not in the years and years of training it took to get where I am now. Not once.

My emotions that would occasionally dictate my actions left me no choice in the matter.

I wasn’t thinking, only feeling.

The kiss was too many things to fully understand in that moment.

His lips were cold, yet also perfectly warm. It was awkward, yet perfectly natural. It was everything I’d wanted it to be, yet somehow more. It must have lasted forever, yet it couldn’t have been more than a few precious seconds.

It took every ounce of my will to pull away after the kiss, the entirety of my being wanting, no begging for more.

Seeing the dumbstruck look on his face nearly made me laugh aloud, but this moment meant so much more than a good laugh to me.

This was the result of everything we’d been through.

Our years of the most formal of chance meetings, my burning desire that only grew stronger and stronger, and most recently my love for a man who’d become nothing short of everything to me.

He deserved more than a kiss, and I would leave zero doubts in his mind about my intentions when he replayed the day’s events in his mind tonight.

For Liam, my favorite journalist, my love for whom words meant so much, I’d put this feeling into words.

“I love you too.” I finally managed, my voice barely more than a whisper.

“I love you too.”