The Return of My First Love novel Chapter 60

Emily

We ended up grabbing some fast food through the drive-thru, and were now parked in a spot near the woods, eating our food.

It was more awkward than it had to be from both sides—and it was all because we had yet to discuss the situation.

"Did you bring me here so you could kill me and bury my body in case I say something terrible?" I joked, trying to ease into the conversation with a bit of humor.

"You got me," Alessio played along, taking a bit from his burger.

We shared a laugh. He and I both shared the same humor that no one else seEmilyed to understand.

He put down his food and twisted his body to take a better look at me. His smile fainted, and had changed to a look of concern. "Now tell me what's on your mind," he said, and I realized it was now or never.

He was not on his phone, he didn't had to run to an appointment, there was no one else around us—the woods were quiet and he was entirely focused on me. If I was going to do this, I had to do this now.

I drew in a breath. "What we've got going on lately has been amazing," I started.

"We can both agree on that," he said.

"Yes, I guess we can," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He grabbed my hand, his gaze locking with mine, and I nervous. "We're not leaving until you tell me what's wrong," Alessio declared, his voice soft and gentle.

"This is what's wrong," I said, my gaze falling to our intertwined hands.

Alessio gave me a questioning look. He truly had no idea.

"You confuse me. You've been holding my hand, giving me hugs and kisses, and that's crossing a line that goes beyond sex," I explained, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Alessio slightly tilted his head, nodding for me to continue.

"I don't know how you feel about me, but those little things make me believe that you might actually be into me. And if that's the case, I need you to tell me," I said, my voice extra steady.

"Why?"

I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to express feelings I hadn't fully admitted even to myself. "Because I'm really into you. I didn't think I would fall for you the way I did, but it happened," I confessed, my heart racing.

Alessio hummed with a cocky grin on his lips. He seEmilyed to be enjoying my confession and had yet to reject me.

"You make me feel like no one ever has before. You are an amazing person, but I have a daughter to think about who is also growing attached to you, and I will always put her above anything else," I continued, laying all of my cards on the table.

I wasn't joking around this time. I wanted to have a serious conversation, and I needed a serious answer.

"I'm listening," Alessio spoke, sitting up straight. It was cute that he was listening, but that was not what I wanted to hear.

"I don't want to sound clingy, but I need to know how you feel about me and what your plans are," I added, almost pleading, so he would understand how serious this was.

"I care about you and Naty," Alessio spoke.

"I need you to give me more than that," my voice trEmilybled as I had yet to hear the words I was waiting for.

My feelings were all of the place. I was hopeful, fearful, anxious…

It wasn't quite a rejection, but I needed something deeper, something more concrete.

"I'm saying, we're on the same page," Alessio reassured me, likely noticing I damn near lost my mind. "I want to take care of you and Naty. I want you by my side and no one else because there's no one else for me."

I let out a breath of relief, finally able to let go of all my worries. It felt good to finally get the closure I needed. After hearing him say those words, I felt at peace. Even if it was hard to get it out of him around first, I could tell he felt the same and that was enough.

"Honestly, fuck this arrangEmilyent, we might as well make it real," Alessio spoke bluntly, taking a sip from his soda. He seEmilyed so nonchalant about everything—and I couldn't understand why. Was I the only one stressed about this situation?

"Are you sure?" I asked.

He shrugged, "Why wouldn't I be?"

I grabbed his arm, squeezing it slightly to stop him from taking another sip. "I can sit here and claim I'm not looking for a father figure for Naty, but I am," I confessed. "I want her to have someone good in her life, and I don't want you to walk away when you get tired of us."

"I know that," he scoffed, as if I were telling him something he already knew.

"Are you ready for all of that?" I frowned.

"Yes," he said, determined, as if he had it all figured out already. "I told you, I want to take care of you and Naty."

"So, we're like together now?"