#by god this is the softest thing I've read today 🥺

[martieshub]

That was true. He knew it deep down in his soul how mad she'd get at missing this. But he couldn't blame her, love stories no matter how they came about were her favorite. And this one was the one she and his sisters were truly invested in. ❛She'll be talking about this for months just know that. ❜

He shrugged as he could feel a smile spread across his features. ❛None were mean spirited though. More than half were random things that made me think of you. One song that I had stuck in my mind for a few days that I knew you'd know the title of. I guess it's now your right to see those texts. ❜ There was laughter behind his words at that. He didn't ever have anything to hide and didn't care if she saw his phone or not. Most of what he had on there were family and friends who, come to think of it, she knew of or had met at some point. ❛You'll probably think I'm ridiculous. Even more so than what you've seen.❜

He knew how hard it was to start off and to begin to peel yourself like an onion. It took courage and a bravery no one could ever begin to know of until they were in the hot seat. Thumbs doing a comforting number on hers he smiled, not hiding the pride for her. ❛I'm proud but I hope you really are proud of yourself. I knew you were always brave but this—just shows how strong and courageous you are. Future you will thank you. You're showing up for her. ❜ He knew this journey was for her to take on her own but she'd still have a support and cheer section regardless.

A big part of him wanted to ease her fears but what could he say that wouldn't just seem like he was disregarding it. He chewed on his words for a moment before he began, ❛Because if I left that easily? Then I really wouldn't deserve you. No one writes songs about the love that comes easy. Fuck ups happen okay, I won't deny that but if watching my siblings' love stories taught me anything, it was that what matters is what you do when things get tricky and hard and fuck ups are made. You don't just leave your partner to deal with it alone. I want to work with you through the ups and downs and the in betweens. I'm sure I'll fuck up along the way too, so we learn together. How can I be so sure? We communicate. Our communication game is pretty strong. ❜ his finger gingerly tapped on her nose, making himself laugh softly. ❛That's the point. You're not sure of yourself but I am sure of you. I believe that's what the kids call a partnership. Your shortcomings, my shortcomings, they're not weaknesses not when you're with the right person. ❜ Being with her changed a lot of his perspective. Things he never saw himself say, here he was saying them and actually meaning them.

He lingered softly in their kiss shared and pulled away softly. As he gave her one of his signature smiles that he'd come to reserve for her. ❛You're right. Never. I love taking up your time though. Second favorite past time. If you're going to call Charlie and Anna. I have to be here for that. I just know you won't tell me what he says. ❜ Wally said it teasingly but knew that to be half true. Either she'd neglect to say certain things or skip over it all together. ❛I can hear it. Though which is worse his gloating or roro's?❜

❛Well, I'm no expert on this but from what I've gathered from seeing couples who were friends before is that the transition will be easier than it'd be if we were strangers. Not saying it won't have some rough patches but there's already a level of care that we developed while we were friends, we're still friends but now that just has become something more. It's become friends who are in love. Technically I don't see much changing, we're still hanging out, eating dinners, working together but now I can actually take you out on a date and call it a date and tell you how beautiful you are without you thinking I'm joking. Kisses too is good without the pretense of doing it for work. There'll be loads more snuggles for you though. Insane amounts of snuggles but most importantly I want you to know we can take it as slow or as fast as you want. My main thing is I want you to be happy and comfortable. Everything is a bonus. End of the day you're my best friend who I've got a major crush on. ❜ He wanted to add in a normal banter for her since this would be one of the biggest changes that they'd have to deal with and sort through. However she wanted to proceed was how they would.❛What do you think will change? ❜ he asked as his fingers took her hand and began to draw shapes on her knuckles. The way she was currently looking at him started to color his cheeks a slight crimson color.

It was a fascinating thing to experience, having someone look at him like she was. He'd seen it, heard it from his brothers in laws. Saw it the first time jc had come to him to tell him he had fallen in love with his sister. He saw it the very moment that they'd sat together and saw the way they'd look at each other. That look reminded him of the one his girlfriend was giving him. At that his dimple slightly showed thinking that was a sentence he never would have thought would ever come. He wanted to make a joke so badly but didn't. Instead let his hand cup her jaw and his index finger caressed from her jaw to her cheek, locking eyes with her. If this was how they'd communicate from now on, it would definitely warm his heart. He'd found his someone. ❛Oh man. You do realize that now you're gonna be an official plus one to my mom's summer bash gala. ❜He started laughing just thinking about it. ❛Just know you don't have to go if you don't want to. I can cover for you. ❜

She felt her heart swell in a happiness she couldn't ever remember experiencing before. At the mention of her friend, she couldn't help but laugh. "Then we should be careful because she'd probably be mad she wasn't there for it."

The sentiment was something she knew all too well. She longed to call him so many times. "I would love to see these texts, I'm sure some were well deserved at how I went around doing this." At his question, her voice was soft and low from trying to not cry as she answered him. " It's hard. There was a part of me that knew it would be, I just didn't think it would be this hard. Probably the hardest thing I've ever done. ” She remembered the silence that surrounded her when she sat there in the office, not knowing what to say or how to start. The itch to drink or run from it all instead of staying and continuing to face the things that haunted her in a way she didn't think she could be haunted.

" It is? " Her eyebrows furrowed in slight confusion. "But what if I still fuck up? I get that you would be there for me but what if I fuck up so much that you won't want to be around me anymore? I just," she sighed. "I don't know how you can be so sure in me when I'm not."

"Yeah" she said standing up with his hands in hers and gently pulling him up. "In all fairness I didn't tell you to get on your knee. And it's okay, I know your not that big into sharing." She chuckled before placing another soft kiss on his lips. "In all the time that I've known you, when have you been worried about taking up my time? You can stay here as long as you want. Oh, yeah." Her eyes grew wide. "I should probably call Charlie and Anna." Biting her bottom lip as she led him to the couch, she quickly dismissed it. "Tomorrow, I don't want to hear his gloating right now."

Settling on the couch, she couldn't help but just look at him. Watch him. "So, what now?" She asked softly, this all being new to her. She hadn't given it much thought as to what would change. What would be different. If anything at that.