Second Chances

thirty-one

a l e x

"Luke, we need to talk about something," I interrupted him as he went to eat.

He raised his eyebrow and slowly brought his fork to his mouth. "About what? You're kind of scaring me here. It's like you're about to break up with me, but we're not even together."

"I just thought I should tell you," I shrugged, taking a bite of my food.

He looked even more confused. "Tell me what?"

"That I think I'm ready," I clarified.

"Ready for what?" he whined. "Alex, finish your sentences. I can't read your mind."

"For us to be together," I declared.

He stared at me in shock and dropped his fork. "You're being serious? Are you actually being serious right now?"

I nodded and smiled at him. "I've been thinking about it, and I think I'm ready."

Luke got up from his seat and knelt on the floor beside me. "Are you sure? One hundred percent? Completely sure?"

"Why are you acting like you don't want this to happen?" I held his face in my hands.

"Are you kidding? Of course I want it to happen," he exclaimed. He captured my lips with his and kept his hands on my thighs, gripping them lightly.

I felt his hands start to roam as he deepened the kiss, and I had to stop them before they went somewhere inappropriate. Luke didn't seem to mind, because he just maneuvered his hands and intertwined his fingers with mine. Our lips wouldn't separate, and I finally had to pull away when I ran out of breath.

Somehow, we found ourselves standing. How? That will forever be a mystery.

"I have a girlfriend," he whispered to himself then looked at me. "You're my girlfriend. I'm not single anymore. Did you really wait for my birthday to do this?"

"Not really, but it just felt right to tell you now," I responded. "At least it won't be hard for you to remember when our anniversary is."

He hugged me and put his chin on the top of my head. "Alexandra, I love you."

"I love you," I squeezed him and kept my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat.

"Can you say it again?" he mumbled, not letting go of me. "I missed you saying it."

That honestly just melted my heart. My heart was a puddle. "I love you."

"I love you, baby," he grinned. "So much."

"Hey, I ordered you something," I told him, finally pulling away from the hug. "It's cold as hell outside, but I know you're gonna want it anyway."

His eyes stayed on me as I walked over to the small fridge in the room and pulled out a small bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it. "You don't like cake so much anyway, so here you go."

"I didn't need a candle to blow anyway. I have you, and that's the only thing I was going to wish for," he kissed me quickly.

"Great, so can I have some?" I tried.

"I love you, but c'mon, it's vanilla, baby," Luke frowned. "You only got me a scoop."

That was expected. He loved his ice cream more than he loved me. "I'll let you have it because it's your birthday. And... no, yeah, that's the only reason why."

He put the bowl down on the table and looped his arms around my waist. "No, what were you gonna say? You wanted to say something."

"And because I love you," I rolled my eyes. "But let me put it in the freezer first. We've barely eaten."