The door shuts behind me, the resounding click echoing in my head. My fists clench at my sides, frustration clawing at me like a wild animal. Before I can think better of it, I spin back around and shove the door open again, the handle biting into my palm.

"You know what? No," I snap, my voice sharper than I intend, but I don't care. "I'm not going to let you push me away like you have every other time."

She looks up, startled, her wide eyes locking onto mine as I slam the door shut behind me. My steps eat up the distance between us, and I stop only when I'm close enough to see the pool of chocolate in her gaze, the slight tremble of her lips as she presses them together. Her arms tighten around herself, a defensive move I've seen a hundred times before, and it only fuels my determination.

"Jason," she starts, but I cut her off, shaking my head.

"No, Arden. You don't get to do this. Not anymore." My voice softens, but the resolve behind it doesn't waver. "You don't get to push me out of your life because it's easier than letting me in."

Her lips part, but no sound comes out. I can see the storm brewing behind her eyes, the battle between retreating and fighting back. When she doesn't say anything, I press forward.

"Nothing's changed-"

"Everything's changed, Kitten." Her eyes snap to mine at the name. "That's why I'm here."

I see her swallow, the way her eyes flick between mine as she refuses to say what I can clearly see she's feeling. "Jason..."

"No," I cut her off gently, but firmly. "You don't get to push me away this time, Arden. Not after everything we've been through."

She laughs softly, shaking her head. "What, surviving a deserted island together makes us soulmates now?"

Does she not feel what I feel? She has to. She has to.

"No," I say, a small smile tugging at my lips. "But it made me realize what I want."

She look down, unable to hold my gaze and my stomach plummets. "We live in two completely different worlds. You're some famous hockey star, for God's sake. And I'm just..." She pauses, as if searching for the right words. "I'm just some girl you used to know."

"Some girl?" My voice is incredulous, almost angry. "Are you really that oblivious?"

She glances up, startled.

"I want you," I say, voice rough with emotion. "Not some random woman who's after me because of my career. Not some fling. You."

"You don't mean that. You've got women throwing themselves at you left and right."

I scoff but she continues.

"That's your life, Jason. The media, the fans, the chaos. It's who you are."

"And you think that means there's no room for you?" I ask, my voice quieter now, softer.

She won't look me in the eyes. "I think it means we're too different. You've got this... this whole world, and I've got my quiet little life. It doesn't make sense."

"It made sense on the island," I say, my chest aches.

"That was different," She says, shaking her head. "That wasn't real."

"It felt real to me," I mutter, stepping closer until she's forced to stare into my eyes. "Tell me it didn't feel real to you," my voice is barely more than a whisper. "Look me in the eye and tell me it was all just pretend."

She doesn't speak, her mouth opening and closing. I keep walking closer, slowly like I'm approaches a wounded tiger until her back hits the kitchen counter and I gently cage her in.

"You think I don't see it? The walls you've built around yourself, the way you keep everyone at arm's length? I see it, Arden. And I'm telling you, I'm not going anywhere." I shake my head when she still stays silent. "I'm not going anywhere, so you better get used to me."

The silence between us is heavy, thick with all the things we've left unsaid. She tries to look away, but I don't let her, forcing her eyes back to mine with my thumb on her chin, gently pushing it up until those brown eyes of hers rest on mine again. "I don't know what you want from me, Jason," she says quietly. "I don't know how to do this."

"Let me in, Arden."

She's already shaking her head and my heart pounds faster as I watch her hands drop to her sides, and I see the faint tremor in them before she hides them behind her back. "Some people don't work out," she murmurs, almost to herself. "They're just not meant to be."

"Not us," I say, cutting her off. "That's not how we'll end."

"You don't know that-"

"Yes, I do." My head drops, resting against hers. "Tell me right now that you don't care about me, and I'll walk out that door and you'll never have to see me again. If you can look me in the eyes and tell me that, then I'll leave you alone."

"It's not that easy." Her voice is shaky, but I don't move back.

"Yes it is."

Her eyes are glassy, cheeks red but I keep my eyes locked on hers.

"What do you want from me?" She whispers, her voice breaking.

"Tell me the truth."

"I think I'm falling in love with you," she says, so softly I almost don't catch it.

My chest tightens, and for a second, all the anger, all the frustration, melts away. But then I snort, a laugh escaping before I can stop it.

Her eyes narrow immediately, her cheeks flushing darker. "Just forget I said anything—"

"It's funny," I cut her off, a grin tugging at my lips despite myself. "That you think you're falling in love with me."

She glares at me, the fire back in her eyes and god, how I missed it. "I said forget it—"

"I think it's funny," I continue, my tone softening, "because I know I'm in love with you."

That stops her cold.

Her arms fall to her sides, her lips parting in stunned silence.

"I've been in love with you since we were teenagers," I say, the words pouring out of me like they've been waiting years to be spoken. "And yeah, maybe I didn't realize it back then. Maybe I was too much of a dumb kid to understand what I was feeling. But I get it now, Arden. I've gotten it for a long time."

She stares at me, blinking, like she's trying to process what I've just said. Like she's waiting for the punchline.

"There's no pretending with you," I say, my voice dropping lower. "Not then, not on that island, and not now. So, stop telling yourself that this is something you can just brush off, because it's not." My shoulders drop, "I'm not going anywhere." I slip back a little, putting the smallest amount of space between us and lift a hand to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear.

"So, you might as well give me a chance, because I'll be here anyway-"

She kisses me. Arden is kissing me.