love being stuck with you

"There's something you should know."

Leo peered at Annie with soft eyes, his hands gently holding hers. "What is it?" he asked, his voice low, brimming with worry and care.

Annie inhaled deeply, the weight of her confession churning her stomach with nervous energy. This wasn't something she ever talked about. But she knew, for things to truly work between them, Leo needed to know the truth. He deserved to know all the dark and messy parts of her, the scars she tried to hide, before he could decide if he really wanted to love her.

As much as Annie hated dredging up these painful memories, she felt guilty hiding it from him. She wanted to let him in, but that required confronting her past, something that always left her feeling raw and vulnerable.

She stared at their intertwined hands, unable to meet his gaze. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her voice shook as she spoke. "My uncle... you've read about him in my letters."

Leo nodded slowly, sensing the heaviness of her words, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her skin. "Yeah, I have. What did he do to you, Annie?" His voice was a soft whisper, filled with trepidation.

Annie closed her eyes for a moment, gathering the strength to continue. When she spoke again, her voice was barely audible, filled with pain. "He raped me. Twice."

The room felt like it had frozen in time. Annie kept her eyes on their hands, afraid of what Leo might think of her now, afraid he would see her differently. Her heart raced, her chest tight with the fear that the person she trusted the most would be repulsed by her truth.

Leo inhaled deeply, his heart shattering at her words. His brows furrowed, and a torn look crossed his face. He didn't know what to say—what could he possibly say to make this better?

"Annie," he finally breathed, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry."

Annie offered him a small, half-hearted smile. "Don't be."

Leo shook his head, more firmly this time. "Of course, I should be. You didn't deserve that. No one does. I'm so sorry you had to go through that." His voice cracked with emotion, and he squeezed her hands tightly, as if trying to transfer his strength to her. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Thank you, Leo," she whispered, her voice soft but sincere.

Leo's eyes were filled with anguish, but also a fierce determination. "Are you okay?" He paused, then shook his head, frustrated with himself. "I mean, I know that's a stupid question, but—"

Annie chuckled softly, cutting him off. "Stop apologizing. I am okay. I just... sometimes it feels like everything bad that's happened in my life has numbed me. I've been sad and hurt so much that now I feel... empty. My mom leaving, my dad becoming distant, always fighting with Jack, and then... everything with my uncle. And then Ryan using me for a bet. It all just makes me so tired."

Leo frowned, hating how much pain and weight she carried on her shoulders. He wanted to take it all away, to make her see how much she deserved to be happy, to be loved.

"Let it hurt until it can't anymore," he said softly, his words gentle but filled with conviction. "One day, you'll look back and be so proud that you didn't give up. You're so strong, Annie. So strong and so beautiful. You deserve everything good this world has to offer, and I hope one day you see that."

Annie smiled, her heart warming at his words, though a blush crept up her cheeks. "You're too nice to me."

Leo gave her a small smile, shaking his head. "You only deserve the best, Annie."

She let out a breathy laugh, trying to deflect his praise. "If that's what you believe."

Leo reached over, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing her skin softly, making her cheeks flush a deeper shade of red. "No," he said, his voice firm but tender. "You accept the love you think you deserve. But you deserve so much more."

Annie felt her heart race, unsure how to respond. "Like I said, I'm just the broken, damaged girl." She tried to offer a cheeky grin, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Beautiful," Leo murmured, his gaze intense but filled with warmth.

Annie tried to glance away, embarrassed by the blush creeping up her face, but Leo didn't let her. He leaned forward, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. The warmth of his touch spread through her, setting her heart alight. Her insides twisted with a mix of nerves and excitement, her body tingling from head to toe.

When he pulled away, she was breathless, her lips still tingling from the kiss. "What was that for?" she whispered, her voice barely steady.

Leo grinned, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Because I can't get enough of you, Annie Halden."

Annie chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "Shut up," she mumbled, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Leo leaned in closer, his voice soft but teasing. "Get used to it, because I want you to be my girlfriend."

Annie's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. "W-what?"

Leo chuckled, clearly enjoying her stunned reaction. "I said, will you be my girlfriend, Annie?"

Annie's eyes widened, her mind racing. "Are you... are you sure?"

Leo raised an eyebrow, amused by her disbelief. "Of course I'm sure. You need to stop doubting yourself, Annie. I've told you—you're incredible, and I wish you could see yourself the way I see you."

A shy smile spread across Annie's face, her heart swelling with emotion. Slowly, she nodded, scooting closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her gaze locked with his as she leaned in for another kiss. It was soft and sweet, filled with everything she felt but had struggled to say.

When she pulled back, her lips still brushing against his, she whispered, "Yes. I will."

Leo grinned like a little kid on Christmas morning, pulling her into a tight embrace. His heart felt full, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right. Annie rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and for a moment, she allowed herself to feel happy—genuinely happy.

Leo's grin widened as he pulled Annie even closer, their bodies fitting together like two puzzle pieces that had finally found their place. His arms wrapped securely around her, and for the first time, he could feel the tension melt from both of them.

Annie nestled her head into the crook of his neck, her heart thudding quietly against his chest. She had never felt this safe before—never felt this wanted. The familiar flutter of nerves in her stomach was there, but so was something else: a deep warmth, a sense of belonging. It was almost overwhelming, how good it felt.

Leo gently pulled back, just enough to look at her face, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheek. "I'm not letting you go now, you know that, right?"

Annie blushed, her lips curling into a shy smile as she nodded. "I think I'm okay with that," she whispered.

Leo leaned in, his lips brushing hers so softly it was like a feather's touch, barely there. But then he kissed her again, more fully this time, slow and tender, like he wanted to savor every second of this moment. Annie's heart soared as she kissed him back, her fingers tangling in the soft fabric of his shirt.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads resting together, Leo smiled, his thumb tracing the outline of her jaw. "I never thought I could feel this way," he murmured. "But with you... everything feels different. Like the world makes more sense when you're around."

Annie's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as her fingers slid up to rest against the side of his neck. "You're making it hard for me to think right now," she admitted, her voice breathy.

Leo chuckled, his eyes twinkling as he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Good," he whispered against her skin. "Because I want you to feel as loved as you deserve, Annie. You don't have to think. You just have to know that I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Annie bit her lip, her eyes glistening as she looked at him. "I've never been good at this... at letting someone in. But with you..." Her voice trailed off as she struggled to put into words everything she was feeling.

Leo smiled softly, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "I know. And I'm going to take my time with you. I'm not in a rush. I just want to be with you, however you need me."

Annie's heart fluttered again, her breath catching in her throat. She felt so vulnerable in this moment, like her heart was laid bare for him to see. But instead of fear, she felt safe, cherished.

She leaned in again, this time initiating the kiss, her lips pressing gently against his. It was soft and sweet, the kind of kiss that left both of them breathless and smiling.

Leo grinned into the kiss, his hands sliding to her waist, pulling her a little closer. When they finally broke apart, he laughed softly. "I could get used to this," he teased.

Annie giggled, resting her forehead against his. "I think I already am," she whispered.

They sat there in comfortable silence for a moment, just holding each other, their fingers tracing lazy patterns over one another's skin. It was a new feeling for Annie, this sense of quiet contentment, like the weight she'd been carrying had finally lifted, even if just a little. She felt lighter in Leo's arms, like maybe—just maybe—things would be okay.

Leo glanced down at her, his thumb brushing her lips. "You're stuck with me now, Annie. I'm never letting you go."

Annie's lips quirked into a playful smile, her eyes sparkling as she gazed up at him. "Good," she whispered, her voice soft. "Because I think I might actually love being stuck with you."

Leo chuckled, his heart swelling with warmth as he kissed her again, slow and sweet. "You and me, Annie Halden," he murmured against her lips, "we're going to be just fine."

Annie smiled into the kiss, her heart finally at peace. "We already are."