𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐧

26. Hypnosis

Aívy

Sunday/December 8, 1991/Los Angeles, CA

I love you, too. Those four words trickled in my ear, got lodged somewhere in my throat, and with a hard swallow, they dived into my belly. Within milliseconds, those four words grew wings.

"Baby?"

I mean, he moved me into his house. Of course he loved me. But then again, he was never home. So there was a little doubt some days. But now I had nothing to question...right?

"Aivanni..."

My lips parted, but there was too much internal action to find the wits to speak.

"Did the river run dry?"

Snap out of it! "No. I'm just a little—embarrassed?"

"Because I love you?"

Oh my God. "No," I answered, staring down into my cold chocolate drink, forcing myself to play this cool. "Because now you know how sappy I am."

"My love for you is a river that'll never run dry. A river that'll run 'til after the end of time."

"It sounds so cheesy when you say it out loud."

"Will the stars fall when we make love? Or will we rise above them?"

"Wait...do you have my notebook with you?"

"No," he chuckled.

Moving through the house now, I went to my bag on the dining table and saw my notebook wasn't in there where I left it, right behind my Poland Spring and purple BIC.

"I'll be there in a little while."

"Thief."

"But I love you."

Pinching my arm, teeth grazing over my bottom lip, his words were a broken record in my brain. "Hey...I..."

"What's wrong?"

"Just come home."

"Didn't I say that's what I was try'na do?"

"Yeah...okay..." So out of it.

"Did I foolishly mistaken myself as the subject behind your love?"

"No. I do."

"Do what?"

"...love you." Throwing my back against the closest wall, I shut my eyes. "I love you." I was tingling.

"I know." Then he hung up. But I was still tingling.

Lover,

I can't believe u said it. I can't believe WE said it. I'm happy. And other things. Why do I feel so horny? I want u so bad right now...in a way that I've never had u.

I can't wait until we get back 2 Chanhassen. Paisley Park is so special 2 me. It's where we first connected. Through the letters. Then our eyes. Then our music and conversation. It's only right it's where we first make love.

I can't wait 2 let go of all our boundaries.

We just got here but I'm ready 2 get back on a plane 2nite!