Page 32 of Aspen's Defense

"I love you," I whisper again, just to make sure she knows I didn't say it in the heat of the moment. I meant that shit. With every fiber of my being.

"I love you, Noah."

Chapter Eleven

Aspen

"Noah,you'veonlybeengone for fifteen minutes," I say, smiling from ear to ear as soon as I answer his call. "I told you that I'll be fine. Giant's already here."

"I know, but I forgot to tell you something."

"What?"

"I love you."

My heart turns a flip. "You told me," I whisper. Hearing him say it last night will be a memory I cherish forever. He said it again before he left this morning.

It's fast and crazy, and I don't care anymore. I don't even feel like the same person I was the day he walked into The Golden Mug. That person was terrified to trust or let people in. She thought she had to conquer the world alone. This one can't even fathom how sad that is.

I've been so afraid that nearly losing me broke something in Nash that I never realized that it broke part of me, too. I thought I was healed when the nightmares stopped, but that was wrong. One part of me never healed completely.

Nash isn't the only one who stopped living. I did, too. I've just been going through the motions ever since. Not anymore. My heart is open, and it's full.

"I know, but I thought you deserved to hear it again."

"I love you too, Noah," I murmur.

"Fuck," he groans. "Why can't this damn game be here?"

"Because the last one was."

"Smartass."

I smile. "It's one night. Brick and I will keep the bed warm for you."

"What's my boy doing?"

"Your boy? Did you just claim my cat?"

"He's our cat now, Dimples. Hate to break it to you, but I've been bribing him to the Darkside since I met him."

"Noah!" I cry, curling up on the couch. "You have to stop feeding him so much. He's on a diet."

He makes a static sound. "What's that? I can't hear you."

"I'm so telling the vet that you're overfeeding him," I vow through laughter.

"Snitches get spankings, Dimples."

"That's not how that saying goes."

"It is now."

Someone says something in the background and Noah curses. "I gotta go, baby. Coach wants us on the ice to warm up before we load up the bus."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow night."

"I'll call you later. Behave."