So, it had been two months. Mandy complained about the fact we never hung out anymore. She kept calling, saying she didn't know me getting a girl would stop us from hanging. I never answered, just listened to the voicemails. I knew she'd eventually show up at my house, but right now wasn't the time. 

I'd driven Rylie to seven book editors. Each one thought her book was really interesting and said they'd call her back. I knew for a fact they'd suddenly get tortured that night if they didn't publish her or answer her, so I was calm, but my sweet girl wasn't at all. She was currently pacing in her living room. 

" Baby, I'm telling you, they are going to call you back. Your book is a masterpiece!"

" I know that! But what if their eyes are full of crap and they can't see it's a future best-seller?"

" Trust me, they'll see it."

" How do you know?"

"Cause I'll bloody annihilate them if they don't see your talent."

She stopped pacing and turned towards me.

" You would do that for me?"

"You don't even know."

She chuckled. 

"You're such a weirdo, I love—"

She stopped talking. I wanted to hear the rest. Was she just about to say I love you? Oh darn, she was going to say I love you! 

" You love?"

"I love churros."

" You didn't love the churros we ate."

" They were bad, probably because of the cook."

" What do you love, Rider?"

" I love Nutella."

" Rider?"

" Okay not the brand, but chocolate spread. Because palm oil is so bad for the monkeys..."

" Rider!"

" I love these little monkeys..."

" Rider!"

" Okay. Okay."

She sat on the armchair opposite the living room. Her face was blood red and her eyes a little sparkly with tears. She was visibly nervous. I could tell because usually humans are nervous I'm gonna end them. 

" I... I love you."

She bit her lip.

" I know it's been only two months, but I do. I love you. You don't have to say it back. You really don't."

" I knew literally for the last two months that I loved you, Rylie. I love you too."

She got up and ran to me, basically suffocating me. 

" You're so cute! Ahhhh! I love you!"

I smiled. 

" I love you too."

She giggled.

" Now shut up and kissed me."