Roland knew this wasn’t the right time. But f**k, he couldn’t keep it to himself anymore. He had to tell her what he felt for her.
“I’m in love with you, Leah,” he confessed.
“Roland—”
“I know. I know this is not the right time to say this but I can’t hold it in anymore. I can’t keep acting like it’s just lust.”
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
“I tried to hide it. I told myself it was just intrigue. Then friendship. But it’s never been just that,” he continued, eyes not moving from hers. “Every time you get hurt, I want to tear the world apart. Every time you laugh, it feels like I won something. And when I see you fighting to carry this weight alone, all I want is to be the one who helps you carry it. Even when you’re elbowing me in the ribs or threatening to gut me during tr
