Tangled Love
CHAPTER 72

CHAPTER 72

I freeze underneath him and the smile from my face slowly fades. Did he really just say that?

I feel Jake's body freeze on top of me and then he’s off me so quick, I could have blinked and not seenit. I lean up on my elbows, swallowing the lump in my throat. The atmosphere suddenly becomes thickwith tension between us. His words cloud my brain. . . I love you.

"Jake — " I murmur quietly.

He has his back turned to me and clears his throat. His hands roam through the strands of his hairnervously.

"Fuck." He mumbles.

"Jake" I repeat again, louder this time wanting him to turn around. My heart beats wildly in my chestfrom his words. They seemed foreign coming off his lips and I couldn't help but think it was a spur ofthe moment thing.

"Did you mean it?" I ask quietly, noticing how Jake never turned around. He clears his throat again andturns to face me. His whole facial expression has changed to one I’ve never seen before. His eyes areglossy and look so vulnerable.

“Yes, I do. I love you, Emily.” Jake whispers, his words soft.

I feel like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I register his words. He loves me. Jake'sgaze dropped to the floor as he waiting for my reply. I felt a thousand butterflies flutter through mystomach as I realised he actually loves me. I stood up and walked towards him, taking his hands inmine. They felt rough and large compared to my soft and small ones but I kinda loved that.

I love how completely different we are to each other yet I always feel myself being pulled towards himby a invisible force. I love how he makes me feel and I love how protective he is of me. I love his

cheeky comeback's and his flirtatious side. I love how he rescued me not just from Trevor, but frommyself. I love the way he cooks me pancakes in the morning and I love the way his nose scrunches upin the most adorable way when he's happy. I love the way he takes care of me... It's the same way Iwatched my father take care of my mother once upon a time. I love his soft playful side that he onlyever seemed to show his close, loved ones.

I love him. I really do love him.

I look up into his eyes and sense how scared he is. It was the first time I had ever seen emotional fearin his eyes. He looks at me pleadingly, begging me silently not to turn him away.

"Say something Muffin,” he mumbles, breaking the silence between us.

"I love you," I whispered, feeling completely enlightened. A grin broke out on my face as I took in hisreaction. I saw his whole posture relax and his blue eyes shine with happiness. He grinned widely,giving me a show stopping smile and chuckled uncertainly as if he didn't believe me and neededreassurance.

"You do?" he asks and I nod, grinning back at him. I wrap my arms around his neck and he laughsagain, his chest vibrating with his deep chuckle. He takes hold of my waist and spins me round, restinghis forehead against mine, the smile never leaving either of our faces. He uses his hand to tilt my chinup towards him, bringing our lips closer together.

"I love you Muffin," he repeats before his lips come crashing down onto mine, claiming me ashis. I don't have a problem with that. I kiss him back just as passionately, sealing our words with ourlips.