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"Excuse me, um, I love you" I know that's not the way to start a conversation, trouble, I watch 'em other girls when they come and bug you But I felt like I knew you, so I just wanted to hug you...
"I love you," was the first thing to leave to his mouth after sitting in silence for a few minutes which only resulted in a soft laugh from her but she couldn't ignore the warmth it gave her heart to hear.
Or anytime he would tell her that.
"That's an interesting way to start a conversation," She spoke softly being careful not to wake up her other housemates, as it was going past 1 AM and her friends were asleep unlike her who couldn't even count sheep right now.
"Just had to make sure you know, mamas." His voice raspy and gentle making her smile.
Her smile widened as she leaned back against her bed's headboard, pulling her blanket tighter around her. The warmth in his voice, even over the phone, was enough to make her forget how late it was, how the darkness of her room should have felt lonely but instead felt comforting because of him.
"I think I got the message the first twenty times you told me," she teased softly, her voice barely above a whisper to avoid waking her housemates. She could practically hear him smile on the other end, that familiar warmth she'd come to associate with him settling over her like a blanket.
"Well, I'll keep saying it until it sticks," he replied, his raspy voice low but playful. "I don't think I could say it enough, anyway."
She chuckled quietly, staring up at the ceiling. There was something about the stillness of the night, the soft hum of silence around them, that made this conversation feel like their own little world—like nothing else mattered except the two of them. It wasn't the first time he'd told her he loved her, but somehow, every time he said it felt new, felt like a quiet confession made just for her.
"So, is this your way of avoiding small talk? Just dropping the 'I love you' bomb right away?" she asked, her tone light as she shifted under the covers, getting more comfortable.
He let out a soft laugh, the sound making her heart flutter. "Nah, just figured I'd start with the important shit, you know? The rest can wait."
Her smile softened, and for a moment, she was grateful they were only talking over the phone because she knew if he saw her face right now, he'd know just how much his words affected her. The truth was, no matter how many times he said those three words, they never failed to make her feel a little lighter, a little more seen.
"You're something else, you know that?" she murmured, her voice gentle, as if she were speaking directly to the stars outside her window.
"Just honest," he replied quietly. There was a pause, and then he added, "You don't have to say it back if you're not ready, by the way. I just... I want you to know how I feel."
