He took a deep breath. It was now or never. He grasped the edge of the desk as if to hold himself up, to gather strength, before letting go and turning around.
Eric looked into Nell's eyes which betrayed her confusion at his silence but were still incredibly mesmerising. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him, his best friend and the only person in the whole world he could imagine spending his life with.
"I love you."
...
Nell didn't know what she had been expecting tonight. Eric had called her up after work and asked if he could come to her house to hang out and, naturally, she had agreed. But instead of their usual take out and video games routine he cooked for her. Eric. Cooking. Looking back she realised that it was obvious how tonight was different. It had actually been the long awkward silences and Eric's obvious nerves that made her aware of the situation.
It had only been after the dinner, when they were sitting in (yet another) awkward silence on her couch, that she asked what was wrong.
Now that she had heard the answer, all Nell knew was that this wasn't what she had been expecting tonight.
...
She hadn't said anything. Not one word. He was staring at her, not having moved an inch since he had laid his heart at her feet. He knew he had to break the silence, but had already said what had been thinking and denying for an absurd number of years.
"Well," Eric began, "that was really all I was going to say... so I guess... maybe I should just go."
He sighed, ran his hand through his hair and began to gather his things. He had done everything he could find enough courage to do and really wanted to go home and hide under his covers for at least a week.
But Nell seemed to be coming out of her initial shock as she blinked a few times, shook her head and seemed to be trying to speak.
Eric had never expected to possess the ability to render his brilliant partner speechless.
...
"Do you really? Love me?" She asked.
What did he mean? Love her? Of course, Nell knew that they both loved each other in the platonic; my-best-friend-care-about-your-welfare; type of way. But was he actually In Love?
He looked at her and for the first time Nell realised that her silence must have hurt him as much as a rejection would have. He looked as if she had just broken his heart and she truly hadn't meant to.
"Yes. I understand that you might be shocked or... something... but... Well, I love you, ok?" he said, crossing his arms.
Oh.
He loved her in that way. And she had said nothing. She was a terrible person and needed to apologise for what must have been an agonizingly long wait for Eric.
"Eric, I'm sorry that..."
He quickly interrupted, "You don't need to pity me, ok? I'm not the only person in the world that gets shot down. I feel fine. Better than fine actually because I've told you. You know how I feel now and it is off my chest. I'll see you on Monday." Eric turned to leave and she couldn't let him go.
"Wait... I... Eric." She stuttered.
He didn't understand what she meant, and she didn't want to hurt him, what should she do, what about their jobs, she loved him, now he was leaving, she couldn't let him leave. Wait... she loved him?
But how could she not love him? He was smart, made her laugh, he was her favourite person to be with in the world and she knew her heart belonged to him.
"I love you, Eric. I love you too."