-1Author's Note: It would seem that June is the month for birthdays. Happy Birthday Marie! I realize this isn't very long compared to others I have written, but it does make an impact.
Three one syllable words. They weren't difficult. Singularly formed on the tongue with ease. Together, they were not so easily spoken. They stuck to the roof of a person's mouth like peanut butter, leaving them to look like a tongue tied idiot. Leaving me to look like a tongue tied idiot; which isn't exactly how a guy wants to look when the woman of his dreams is lying next to him, an expectant look on her face.
I knew what Izzie was expecting. She wanted to hear me say those three words. I took a deep breath, formed the words on the tip of my tongue, and opened my mouth. "I…" Nothing else came. Shit. Disappointment filled the large brown eyes that had been so full of hope, of expectation. I hated knowing that I was the one who had disappointed her. Again. "It's not you," I squeaked out. She nodded, but I could tell that she didn't understand. "Iz, I promise. It isn't you."
"I know," she said quietly. She didn't. I could tell. She didn't know that it wasn't her and I had no fucking clue how to make her understand. How did I tell her that my father had stolen my ability to express how I felt? "I really do know, Alex. I just…it would be nice to hear you say it is all." She rose from the edge of my bed, walking across the room to the window. Her fingers reached up, trailed down the bamboo shades. "Do you ever get scared that we're going no where? That the reason we can't tell each other we love each other is because…well we don't?"
My heart skidded to a halt. I vaulted off the bed, striding toward her. I placed my hands on her shoulders and gently turned her until she faced me. "That is crap," I bit out. "I have never loved anyone as much as I love you Izzie Stevens."
A grin spread across her full lips. She leaned her body close to mine, looping her arms around my neck. "I love you, too," she said happily, pressing a kiss to my lips. I blinked, surprised. I had said it. She had said it. Finally. We had said those three words.