Every Girl Wants A Moon

Chapter 27: Love

I had never been great at accepting things for myself. Compliments, affection, kindness—whenever they were directed at me, I struggled to believe them. To hold onto them. It was easier to give than to receive.

But Chase had a way of making me listen.

A way of making me feel like maybe, just maybe, I could be someone worth who was worth it.

And tonight... tonight, I could feel it in the way he was looking at me.

We were sitting in the bed of his truck, parked in a secluded spot along the beach. The sound of the waves stretched out around us, rolling onto the shore in slow, steady movements, like the earth itself was breathing. The night air was cool, but not uncomfortably so, the scent of salt lingering in the breeze. Overhead, the stars burned bright against the deep navy sky, their reflection shimmering on the ocean's surface.

It was beautiful. He was beautiful.

Chase had spread out blankets across the truck bed, making a space that was warm and comfortable, and he had brought pillows, too, making sure I could lean back if I wanted to. A small lantern sat beside us, its dim glow casting soft shadows over his face, highlighting the sharp cut of his jaw, the curve of his lips, the blue of his eyes that had been watching me all night.

I wasn't sure if it had been an actual date or just us—the way we always were together. He had invited me here without saying much, just a simple come with me, like he hadn't needed to convince me, like he had known I would say yes. And I had said yes, because there was something about Chase that made it easy to follow him.

But now, with his fingers resting lightly between us, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his skin but not quite touching, I knew there was something more to tonight.

He was thinking. Hard.

I could tell by the way his jaw tensed slightly, the way his gaze flickered toward me and then away, like he was weighing his words before he even spoke them. Chase wasn't someone who hesitated often. When he had something to say, he just said it. But right now, he was taking his time.

I swallowed, my pulse steady but aware. "Chase?"

His lips parted slightly, like he had been waiting for me to say something. Then, after a long breath, he finally turned to face me fully, shifting so that his knee bent against the blanket, his body angled toward mine. The flickering glow of the lantern cast his features in soft shadows, making the depth in his blue eyes even more intense.

"I need to tell you something," he said, voice quieter than usual, like the words carried weight.

My stomach tightened, my fingers gripping the edge of the blanket beneath me. "Okay."

He exhaled through his nose, as if steadying himself, then reached out, his hand finding mine. His fingers curled around mine gently, grounding me, grounding himself. His touch was warm, steady, familiar—and yet, there was something different about it tonight.

"I don't want to freak you out," he admitted, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin. "I know I said no pressure, that we'd take things slow, and I meant it. But there's something I need you to know, and I need to say it now before I drive myself insane trying to find the perfect time."

My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I had no idea what he was about to say, but I knew—I knew—it was going to change something.

Chase let out a slow breath, and then, his grip on my hand tightened just slightly.

"I love you, Sophia."

The words weren't rushed, weren't nervous. They were certain. Solid. Like he had already made peace with them long before he ever said them out loud.