Claire's POV
"I love you," Louis echoed once more.
If I didn't hear him clearly earlier, I certainly did now.
I watched him say words that I never dared to admit out loud.
I knew I liked Louis, more than liked him if I was being honest. Love was new territory, but I was on the path to it. Had been for a while.
His gaze was soft, patient, watching me turn his words over in my head. I couldn't respond. I didn't want to.
Saying I loved him or that I was close to it would be too easy. He didn't get to just say it and have everything fall back into place.
Not after everything. He had to regain my trust that he shattered over mere trivialities.
I averted my gaze from his soft ones, and looked down at the table between us. "Louis.." Before I could find my words, he cut in.
"You don't have to say it back, you don't have to believe me, Claire." He paused. "I don't want a response. I just wanted you to know it."
