Tangled Love

CHAPTER 72

I freeze underneath him and the smile from my face slowly fades. Did he really just say that?

I feel Jake's body freeze on top of me and then he’s off me so quick, I could have blinked and not seen it. I lean up on my elbows, swallowing the lump in my throat. The atmosphere suddenly becomes thick with tension between us. His words cloud my brain. . . I love you.

"Jake — " I murmur quietly.

He has his back turned to me and clears his throat. His hands roam through the strands of his hair nervously.

"Fuck." He mumbles.

"Jake" I repeat again, louder this time wanting him to turn around. My heart beats wildly in my chest from his words. They seemed foreign coming off his lips and I couldn't help but think it was a spur of the moment thing.

"Did you mean it?" I ask quietly, noticing how Jake never turned around. He clears his throat again and turns to face me. His whole facial expression has changed to one I’ve never seen before. His eyes are glossy and look so vulnerable. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Yes, I do. I love you, Emily.” Jake whispers, his words soft.

I feel like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I register his words. He loves me. Jake's gaze dropped to the floor as he waiting for my reply. I felt a thousand butterflies flutter through my stomach as I realised he actually loves me. I stood up and walked towards him, taking his hands in mine. They felt rough and large compared to my soft and small ones but I kinda loved that.

I love how completely different we are to each other yet I always feel myself being pulled towards him by a invisible force. I love how he makes me feel and I love how protective he is of me. I love his

cheeky comeback's and his flirtatious side. I love how he rescued me not just from Trevor, but from myself. I love the way he cooks me pancakes in the morning and I love the way his nose scrunches up in the most adorable way when he's happy. I love the way he takes care of me... It's the same way I watched my father take care of my mother once upon a time. I love his soft playful side that he only ever seemed to show his close, loved ones.

I love him. I really do love him.

I look up into his eyes and sense how scared he is. It was the first time I had ever seen emotional fear in his eyes. He looks at me pleadingly, begging me silently not to turn him away.

"Say something Muffin,” he mumbles, breaking the silence between us.

"I love you," I whispered, feeling completely enlightened. A grin broke out on my face as I took in his reaction. I saw his whole posture relax and his blue eyes shine with happiness. He grinned widely, giving me a show stopping smile and chuckled uncertainly as if he didn't believe me and needed reassurance.

"You do?" he asks and I nod, grinning back at him. I wrap my arms around his neck and he laughs again, his chest vibrating with his deep chuckle. He takes hold of my waist and spins me round, resting his forehead against mine, the smile never leaving either of our faces. He uses his hand to tilt my chin up towards him, bringing our lips closer together.

"I love you Muffin," he repeats before his lips come crashing down onto mine, claiming me as his. I don't have a problem with that. I kiss him back just as passionately, sealing our words with our lips.