Free Don't Tell by Mercy Amare

right and I would probably start crying.
    Ian knelt down on the floor beside me.
    “ You have every right to hate me. I promised I wouldn't tell. I just couldn't handle him hurting you anymore,” Ian's voice broke. “I'm really sorry, for everything.”
    “ I don't hate you,” I replied quickly. “And I'm sorry that I lied to you about what happened. I was just scared that you wouldn't lo...” I cut off before saying the word love , and instead said, “like me anymore if I told you the truth.” And I was right, I added silently.
    “ There is nothing in the world that could ever make me not love you.”
    Did he just say love ? I was sure I misheard him. “What?”
    “ I love you.”
    “ Why?”
    He scooted closer to me. “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met, but not only on the outside. You're so kind, so loving and so forgiving. When I'm with you, I want to be a better person. You're smart. And you take life one day at a time. Even with all the bad, you find a way to make it through and come out smiling at the end of the day. You're so brave. You, Lucy Pierce, are the girl that I've fallen madly in love with.”
    “ You love me?” I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. Had I really heard him right?
    “ Yes,” he send me a half smile that made my heart beat wildly. “And I am hoping that you feel the same.”
    “ I do,” I said with tears running down my face. “Ian, I love you.”
    I had never seen him smile so big. He pulled my face closer to his and he kissed me. It was in that moment that I knew – no matter what life threw our way, no matter what pain or hardship, we would always be together, and we would always love each other. That kind of love never fades.

 
     
     
    EPILOGUE
    9 months later
     
     
     
    Lucy
    “ Why did I agree to be your roommate?” I asked Tess, as I looked around our very messy dorm room at UGA. Tess is the biggest slob ever.
    She thought for a minute. “Because they wouldn't let you room with your boyfriend.”
    I smiled at her very true statement. If they would let guys and girls room together, I would be with Ian. Either way, I had a feeling we would be spending a lot of time in each others dorms.
    I smiled as I heard a knock on the door. Without opening, I knew that it was Ian.
    When I opened the door, Ian grabbed me around the waist and pulled me towards him for a kiss. His hands explored my backside, making me moan. We only pulled back when we heard a gagging sound from behind us.
    “ You two are disgusting,” Tess complained.
    “ I don't know,” Ian said, never taking his eyes off me. “You taste pretty good to me.”
    “ Ewe!” Tess added a dramatic cough at the end. “Seriously, can you take it somewhere else?”
    I laughed. “Fine.”
    Ian grabbed my hand and led me out of the dorms. Tonight was our date night, and he had something special planned. I couldn't wait.
     
    …
     
    Ian
    My palms were sweaty, and my heart was beating uncontrollably fast. I once again felt like the first time I had taken her on a date. I was at a complete loss for words. We walked through the parking lot in silence.
    Tonight, I would be giving Lucy a promise ring. A promise that one day, after we graduate college, we would be getting married, and we would be spending the rest of our lives together. The ring would be a symbol of my undying love. Plus, it would remind every guy in the state of Georgia that she is mine.
    “ Are you ok?” Lucy asked as I opened her door. “You don't look so good.”
    “ I'm fine,” I answered, motioning for her to get in.
    I took deep, even breaths as I walked to the other side of the truck. You can do this, I repeated to myself, getting inside.
    “ Ian,” Lucy's soft voice woke me out of my trance. When I looked up at her, she looked concerned. “Are you ok?”
    I nodded, suddenly feeling excited. I didn't want to wait any longer. “Lucy, I love you.”
    “ I love you, too,” she said, smiling.
    I reached in my pocket