Free Something Like This (Secrets) by Eileen Cruz Coleman

to him.
    I closed my eyes and let him go deeper into me. Was I falling in love with him? Oh my God, yes, I love him. I don’t really know him, but I can’t deny my feelings.
    As he rocked me and went deeper and deeper into me, I wanted to scream and let him know what I was feeling. I wanted him to know that I loved him. I wanted him to take away my pain, my sadness, my past.
    ***
    M oments later, we held each other, my head resting on his chest.
    “Are you hungry?” he asked, kissing the top of my head.
    “A little, but I need to get back soon.”
    “How about I fix you a sandwich to go?”
    “That would be great.”
    It would also be great if I told you I loved you and you said the words back to me. Did I dare tell him? I could almost hear myself saying the words to him. What if he didn’t say them back? It was too soon. I was acting like a needy, crazy girl.
    He jumped out of the bed and proceeded to get dressed.
    “Meet you in the kitchen?” he asked.
    I nodded.
    Once alone, I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts. I decided not to tell Reece what I was feeling. Doing so would end up scaring him. I didn’t want to risk losing him. Not before we even got started.
    I got up, got dressed, and headed for the kitchen.
    “Here you go,” he said, holding a sandwich in a Ziploc bag in front of me.
    “Thank you.” I took the bag. “I guess I better get going.”
    “I’ll drive you back.”
    “No, it’s okay, I’ll take the Metro.”
    “I’ll drive you.”
    “No, really, it’s okay. I’d actually rather take the Metro, if you don’t mind.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yes, I’m sorry, I have to meet with a new guy in our office to go over some manuscripts this afternoon and I could use the alone time to think.”
    I had to leave before I blurted out the words.
    “Okay. If you’re sure?”
    “I’m sure.”
    He leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “I miss you already.”
    I smiled. “Me too.”
    “Can I call you later?”
    “You better.”
    He walked me to the door.
    “Okay, be careful,” he said.
    “Will do.”
    I started walking down the hall. “Are you watching me?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s kind of creepy.”
    “I can’t help it.”
    I pushed the elevator button and the doors instantly opened. I took a step.
    “Wait,” he said.
    “Is something wrong?”
    “I have to tell you something.”
    “What is it?”
    He ran toward me. “Jadie, the thing is. Well, I...”
    “What?”
    “I’m crazy about you.”
    “I know that.” I smiled.
    “It’s not just that.”
    “I...love you.”
    My heart danced. I couldn’t believe he’d said the words I wanted to say to him.
    Tears started forming. “I love you, too.”
    He hugged me. “Are we crazy?”
    “A bit.”
    “Okay, so, we love each other, right?” he said.
    “Looks that way.”
    “Okay, good, because I thought I was going to scare you off.”
    “I’m still here. Well, for now. I do need to go.”
    He pushed the elevator button for me. “I don’t want my uncle to get mad at you because of me.”
    The doors opened and I stepped in.
    “I love you,” he said, again.
    “And I you.”
    The doors closed. I leaned against the wall and let my tears fall.
    I was happy, so very happy. Nothing in the world could make me sad right at that moment. Reece loved me and I loved him. That’s all that mattered.
CHAPTER SIX
    ––––––––
    I t was Monday night and I was sitting on my bed, drinking a glass of wine and thinking about the day’s events. It had been quite a day, for sure. Mr. Walker had basically wigged out on me, I had met Tom, someone I knew was going to be trouble, and Reece..., well, he had told me he loved me, only minutes after I had almost told him I loved him. I couldn’t believe how quickly things were moving.
    I realized that there was a very real possibility I was setting up my heart to be broken, shattered, destroyed...all right, I was being dramatic, but still, my dramatics didn’t change