"I love you."
Emily shook her head, keeping her back to him. "Don't say that."
"I do."
"No, you don't."
Dave huffed slightly. "I'm fairly certain that I know I'm feeling, Emily."
"You can't feel that way about me."
"Why not?"
She took a deep breath. "Because I don't feel that way about you."
It hurt. Even though he knew what she was doing. What she was trying to force him to do. The words still hurt. But he stepped towards her instead of the door, and took a gentle hold on her shoulders as he turned her around and forced her to face him.
"Try that one again," he said.
She opened her mouth, but the words never came. Instead, she scowled and shook her head. "I hate you sometimes."
"You don't have to say it yet, Emily. I can wait."
Glancing up at him, she shrugged, biting her bottom lip. "Even if I feel that way about you?" she asked quietly.
His expression was gentle as one hand came up to push the hair back from her face. "Even if you feel that way about me," he assured her, his voice quiet.
Emily wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her head in his chest. "I do, you know," she whispered.
Dave let his hands trail through her hair, and he kissed the top of her head, pulling her closer. "I know."