"You've never opened up to me like that before."
"I want to be able to give you what you need, Penny."
"Why is it so hard for you to talk to me?"
"Most people look at me and judge me in one second. I'm well off. My parents are well off. They think everything has been handed to me. And when I was younger, it was. So I can't correct their opinion. I haven't met anyone who sees more than that."
"Because you refuse to open up. So what else are they supposed to see?"
"You see more."
"That's because I don't care about your money. I care about you."
"I know. I'm trying, Penny. I'm not used to this."
"This?"
"The way I feel about you."
He had written that he loved me.Why can't he say it out loud to me?I wanted to hear him say it. "I've never been in love before."
"I know." He ran his fingers through my hair.
"Have you?"
"I've never felt like this."
"Does love always hurt this much?"
"I'm not trying to hurt you. I don't want to ever hurt you again."
"You're not good for me."
He sighed and put his arms around me again. "No, I'm not."
"But I love you anyway." I could feel my tears falling again. "I'm sorry. Geez, I don't know why I'm so emotional today."
"It's a side effect of having a concussion."
"Oh." I laughed and wiped the tears off my cheeks. I wanted him to say he loved me back. I needed him to say it.
"You're so gorgeous."
I laughed. "I have a huge bandage on my head."
"You're still gorgeous."
I wanted to hear those three words out loud. I needed to know that it was real, that he still felt the same way. I traced the bruise around his eye with my index finger. "I love you."
He ran the tip of his nose against mine, but didn't say a word.
"I'm actually really tired now." I rolled over so that I was no longer facing him. Having a concussion really did make me emotional. But it wasn't just that.Why won't he say it back?Maybe this wasn't love. Maybe it was lust on hyper drive and I was just as insane as I felt.
"Hey." He leaned over and grabbed my chin in his hand. "What's wrong?"
I sat up so that his hand fell from me. "Why won't you say it?"
"Say what?"
