Time seemed to stand still as Hope held Emma's gaze.
She hardly dared to breathe as she waited for her best friend to react to the admission that would, in one way or another, change everything between them.
"How long?"
"What?"
"How long have you been in love with me?" Emma asked patiently, her thumb unconsciously stroking Hope's cheek.
"I don't know," Hope replied, "but I realized it at the New Year's Eve party our senior year."
"We were both single and kissed at midnight."
"It was a friendly, barely there kiss, but it changed everything for me."
"And it was three years ago." Emma wondered how she could have missed something so big for so long. Before she could get too lost in her head, she was pulled back to the moment by Hope reaching up and taking her hand.
"Stay with me, Ems." Hope managed a small smile as she lowered their hands and reluctantly released her hold on Emma's hand. "Explain what you meant by "what if you didn't have to?" That implies that you were aware of my feelings, but the look on your face when you realized I was in love with you said otherwise."
"I started to suspect this weekend, but I didn't know how deep your feelings ran," Emma admitted.
"And now that you do?"
"My feelings may not run as deep as yours, but there are feelings that go beyond friendship."
"When?" Hope asked breathlessly, cautiously allowing herself to believe that her feelings weren't completely unreciprocated.
"Last summer. Fourth of July at the lake house."
Hope nodded, remembering that night and the weight of Emma's gaze during the midnight fireworks show. "What do we do now?"
Emma leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to Hope's lips then pulling back. "Take it slow. Let things develop naturally. Communicate with each other."
"Slow. Natural. Communication. Got it."
"Good."
Time seemed to stand still as Hope held Emma's gaze.