“I laughed. “I don’t care if you’re nice or not. I just want you to be you. No more pretending. I think it’s time we all got to know the real Logan Lyke.”“What if I don’t know who the real me is?” he asked.“Then I guess you better find yourself,” I smiled.”

“Sloane,” he said pulling away when I started to fall out of his arms. “It’s killing me to fight this. I can’t. I don’t want to. Not anymore.”I swayed and his arms steadied me.“Are you okay?” he asked. His lips quirked. “I might have to refrain from kissing you if you’re going to faint.”

“Nothing,” she said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gram added. “Oh, I don’t know maybe the voodoo mind magic going on five minutes ago?” I said.”

“Sloane, I want you to know that…” he swallowed. “That I… care,” he flinched.I nodded my head. He cared. It wasn’t a declaration of love but I was pretty sure it was all I was going to get. It was good enough… for now.Siva”

“Looks like I’ve found myself a handy man,” I smiled. “Oh yeah,” he grinned, “I’m as handy as they come.”“I can see it now,” I fantasized, “leaky faucets, fixing lights, painting walls.”Caeden’s laugh filled the woodshop classroom. “And let me guess, you’re not going to help me, you’ll just watch.”“It’s what I do best,” I laughed.Caeden stood the cabinet upright and grabbed some trim pieces for detailing. “That’s okay, at least I’ll have something pretty to look at,” he winked.“And I’ll always be there to hand you tools,” I said.“Just not the power ones,” he grinned crookedly.”

“Siva,” I said and my heart broke for this beautiful man. “You once told me that love is hard, painful, and anything but pleasant.” I laughed, “I feel that with you, Siva. I love you so much it hurts. I didn’t have that with Dev. I loved him, of course, but now… When I look back on our relationship I realize that we were more like best friends. He didn’t make my heart speed up like this,” I said and placed Siva’s hand over my heart. “He didn’t make my toes curl with a look, he didn’t make me love him and hate him at the same time, and he didn’t leave me breathless. I love you. I’m in love with you. You’re the one I want. You’re the one I choose. You are not second best, Siva, do you hear me? You’re not. Even if… even if Dev hadn’t died I still think we would’ve found each other. You’re my heart and my soul Siva. I fell for you Siva and I fell hard and I’m okay if I never get up.”

“Watcha doin’?” Caeden flopped down on the couch beside me.“Homework, you should really try it sometime.”He snorted. “You don’t even know what grades I make.”“I’m sure they suck.”