Chapter 51

• Maija
• The rest of the outing goes smoothly, and we head home after wrapping our picnic in the park. I can’t seem to think about anything else except for those words- I love you. I lay in bed, replaying the moment and the words in my mind repeatedly. Wait, why am I overthinking this? He loves me! I squeal as butterflies storm my stomach. My heart feels lighter than it’s ever been. Who cares when he started loving me? He loves me, and I love him. I want to scream into the heavens. I’m in love with Zayne Klein. I freeze, suddenly realizing I didn’t say it back. What didn’t I tell him? I was shocked because I never believed he would say those words, but I should have told him how much I love him. Then we could---Danuel’s face pops in my mind. I can’t tell him that I love him because I'm with Danuel. Danuel has been with me through all my heartache. I can’t just up and leave him. As if conjured by my guilty conscience, my phone starts ringing, and when I check it, it’s Danuel calling on Facetime. I bite my lips nervously as I press the answer button.
• “Hey, babe.”