13
“You do?” she asked in a whisper, unable to put anymore force into the question for fear he’d take his words back.
Jake smiled and brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “I do, Alyssa. I love you. It’s strange. I’ve never loved another person. That’s how I know I love you. My unit became my family. I’d have done anything for those guys. I’d have protected them, but I knew they’d have done the same for me. We were fighting together, on the same team. I never felt like I needed to take care of them. But with you… I want you with me all the time so I know you’re okay. I want to be with you all the time so I can see you smile. I want to kiss you every day and hold you every night. I’ve never thought about a woman as much as I think about you.”
“I love you, too,” Alyssa blurted.
Jake’s g
