She hadn’t meant for it to come out like that. She hadn’t actually planned anything around revealing her feelings, but that was very different from how she’d envisioned it being revealed. It was a big thing to say, and it wasn’t even like she’d really said it. It had just come out. A Freudian slip.

So, she did what any rational human would do: she tried to brush past it. If she asked him about his middle name, Juliette figured that Booker might be distracted enough to not realize the implications of what she said. Then they wouldn’t have to deal with any of it or the awkwardness that might follow when they were sitting in close proximity in a tiny car. If he felt differently, then… it would be a strange few hours, sitting in that parked car with no real way to go anywhere else.

The librarian with the crazy memory was smarter than that, though. Juliette closed her eyes tight and hung her head a little, waiting for the gentle let-down the break the silence. Maybe he would be nice about it and they could just forget about the fact that Juliette had successfully created far too many awkward situations between them by going too fast in their relationship. Go her.

She glanced up as he did his best to shuffle around in the tight space. The back of the little car was definitely not made for a muscular 6’2” man, so it didn’t leave him a lot of room to turn in. Already, his legroom was looking sparse, and when he shifted like that it only looked worse.

>>”Do...you mean that? Like...really? You...love me?”

Juliette held his gaze, her heart stopped entirely. She briefly tried to decide how he was feeling toward it, but it was hard to get a clear read on him. He definitely didn’t seem angry about it, though, which was a good sign. There was no use brushing it off if it was what he wanted to hear, and since it was the truth. She knew what she needed to say. Now, it was just a matter of actually working up the courage to say it for real.

She took in a long break and cast her eyes down for just a second, a small smile forming on her mouth. A second later, she looked back up. ”Um, yeah. I do. I love you, Booker.”

There. That was it. There really was nothing she could do now. At least she could breathe again.

Booker was guarded with his heart. He had to be, really. Given how harshly his last breakup went, and how he viewed his luck, Booker was really waiting for the shoe to drop. He was waiting for Juliette to break up with him, to find something wrong with their “perfect” relationship, or for him to do or say something completely stupid (he wouldn’t have put it past himself). Really Booker was hurt enough with love to just expect the worst, especially when things were going really good. And, right now, things were going really good with Juliette.

However, she uttered those amazing words, those that acted like a dawn breaking through the clouds. Booker wanted nothing more than to just believe her without fault, to know that she was telling him the truth and that she was in no way lying to him. But for as much as he wanted to believe it, he had to be sure. So far Juliette hadn’t lied to him and the look in her eyes and the panic with which she tried to change topics made it seem as if it were all true. She loved him? Him? Was he even worthy of that anymore?

He watched her face, maneuvering himself so that he was facing her. Sitting across from her, Booker watched her face closely as he asked whether she really loved him. She had been trying to change the subject but as soon as he zeroed in on it, Juliette stopped, looked at him, looked away, and seemed to be trying to get her bearings. He held his breath, as if he could breathe, and just watched the woman for whom feelings had been steadily growing. Now that the spotlight was on her, would her answer still be the same?

When she finally skewed up her courage, Booker straightened a little. It almost felt like his relationship was on a precipice, reading to tilt one way or the other. His mouth dried, he watched Juliette, almost afraid of her answer -- until he heard it.

>>”Um, yeah. I do. I love you, Booker.”

He couldn’t describe the feeling if he were asked it. It was like a course of golden light was suddenly flowing throughout his body, slipping into every sinew of his muscles and lighting him up like a Christmas tree. Every warm, fuzzy feeling the man had ever felt in his life was suddenly bubbling to the surface and he didn’t quite know how to contain himself. His eyes glistened, threatening to tear up, but he smiled pure, and wide towards the other woman.

Leaning forward, Booker tenderly wrapped his arms around her, somehow managing to pull her closer. One hand slipped up behind her head as he kissed her. He kissed her; and through that kiss poured all all the tender and affection that had been building up for this woman in the several months since they started dating. His lips met hers with such passion that, to be quite honest, he probably didn’t need to say anything more. But it would have been cruel to not. Once he remembered that he needed to breath, Booker broke the kiss, gulped, and smiled a bit shakily as he placed his forehead against Juliette’s, sweetly caressing her face.

”I’ve...been in love with you,” he said softly, the most earnest of smiles on his face. ”I love you too. Scout’s honor.”

He was never a scout. However, he was sure that that was just a semantic!

There were so many doubts running through Juliette’s mind in that moment. Doubts that had stemmed from her relationship (or lack thereof) with her father, with Sam, with her mom. They were leaks in her mind, where that little sense of belonging sat, slowly seeping away. Usually, she was able to ignore it and power through. She liked to think of herself as a generally secure person, but that wasn’t always the case when it came down to it. She needed to feel loved and accepted, just like every other person out there. Maybe even a little more.

She had said her piece, but what if it wasn’t right for her to say? What if Booker didn’t feel the same way? What if she was more committed that he was? What if she had totally misread everything?

All of those were possibilities, but none of those were the real case. Things seemed to happen in slow motion. Booker’s face lit up, then she could see the emotion on his face; on his whole body. She could see the tears start to well up in his eyes. There was nothing fake about those emotions.

Something settled inside her as he pulled her closer into him. The doubts floated away and she could ignore the leaks for a little while longer. In that moment, she could let him kiss her in a way that she hadn’t experienced before and let herself be taken over for a while. This was good. He hadn’t said anything yet, but in a way, he had just said everything.

Juliette let the feelings wash over her for a while. She never wanted that kiss to end as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight to him. There was no room for doubt or shame between them. Just a warm feeling that had enveloped her completely.

Finally, Booker broke away, but Juliette felt her chin tilt up in protest. She took in deep breaths, still trying to process what had just happened as she rested her forehead against his. None of that was how she had expected it to go, but it was better than what she had pictured. It was more genuine, in a way.

>>”I’ve...been in love with you. I love you too. Scout’s honor.”

Juliette closed her eyes and smiled widely, letting out a little laugh. Those were the words that she’d needed to hear. He’d already just showed her what he meant, but the words made it more real, more final. That was it. He loved her too. Her hand travelled upward and rested on his jaw. She stayed still for a moment, just taking it all in.

”I meant to say that in a better place than the back of my car while stuck in the mud, but I think this way we’ll always know how real it was,” she pointed out. ”I… I’m glad you feel the same way.”

With her heart rate down again, Juliette felt like she could breathe easier. The moment of terror had passed, and now she just felt warm and fuzzy. She felt like kissing him again, too. Using the hand she had on his jaw, she tilted his chin up toward her and pressed her lips to his once again.