Chapter 160 Part two Epilogue: I love you.

Chapter 160 Part two Epilogue: I love you.

Melissa’s POV

Melissa stood at the window, watching Kane’s car disappear into the night.

The party continued behind her. Music. Laughter. People were celebrating.

But she felt… hollow.

Aria was gone. Off with Kane to finally live the life she deserved.

And Gavin hadn’t come.

She’d told herself it was fine. That she didn’t need him here. That two years of distance meant she was okay on her own.

But watching Aria leave in Kane’s arms…

God, she missed him.

Melissa pressed her forehead against the cool glass. Closed her eyes.

“Gavin,” she whispered. “I miss you.”

The words felt like a confession. An admission of something she’d been denying for two years.

She missed him. Wanted him and more than ther she needed him.

And maybe…maybe…she was finally ready to admit it.

Behind her, someone turned the music up. The bass vibrated through the floor.

Melissa pushed away from the window. She should go back inside. Celebrate with her classmates. Enjoy this moment.

But her heart wasn’t in it anymore.

She grabbed her jacket from the hook by the door. Slipped out of the apartment.

The hallway was blessedly quiet. Cool after the heat of the party.

She walked down the stairs. Out onto the street.

The night air was crisp. Spring turning into summer. The city was alive around her even at this late hour.

Melissa wrapped her arms around herself. Started walking toward… she didn’t know where. Just away. Just somewhere she could think.

She was lost in thought was she saw a figure standing at the corner. Dressed in all black. Leaning against the building like he’d been waiting.

Melissa froze.

Her heart started pounding. Old instincts kicking in. Fear from memories of her past.

But then the figure straightened. Stepped into the streetlight.

And she saw his face.

“Gavin?” she whispered.

He didn’t move. Just watched her. His expression was unreadable in the dim light.

Melissa took a step forward. Then another.

“Gavin?” She said much louder. As if all the confusion has been washed away.

He still didn’t speak, he just stood there. Waiting. She started walking faster. Then running.

And finally she threw herself into his arms.

He caught her. Lifted her off her feet. Held her so tight she could barely breathe.

And kissed her.

Deep. Desperate. Like he’d been starving for her and she was oxygen.

His tongue swept into her mouth. Claimed her. Reminded her of everything they’d been. Everything they could be.

Melissa’s legs wrapped around his waist. Her hands fisted in his hair. Two years of distance evaporating in seconds.

She kissed him back with everything she had. Every ounce of longing and love and fear and hope.

When they finally broke apart…both gasping for air…she could barely form words.

“You came,” she breathed. “I thought…Kane said…”

“I’ve been here the whole time.” Gavin’s voice was rough. “Waiting for the party to thin out.”

He set her down gently but didn’t let go. Just cupped her face with both hands.

“I needed to see you. To talk to you. Tell you…” He stopped. Took a breath. “Te amo, Melissa Spenser Hayes.”

The Spanish caught her off guard. Made her heart clench.

“I love you,” he continued. Switching back to English. “Today. Tomorrow. Forever. I love you with everything I am. Everything I’ll ever be.”

Tears were streaming down her face now. “Gavin…”

“I know I hurt you. I know my past destroyed things you can never get back. But I also know…” his thumbs brushed away her tears “…that you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. The only good thing I’ve ever truly had.”

“I love you too,” Melissa said. The words tumbling out. “I’ve loved you this whole time. I was just scared. So scared that loving you meant losing myself again. Becoming that girl who needed saving.”

“You never needed saving, piccola. You saved yourself. Every single time.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I just had the privilege of standing beside you while you did it.”

She kissed him again. Softer this time. Sweeter.

“Take me somewhere,” she whispered against his lips.

“Where?”

“Anywhere. Everywhere. I don’t care.” She pulled back to look at him. “I don’t want to go back to that party. I just want to be with you.”

Gavin’s smile was beautiful.

“I have something to show you.”

He took her hand. Led her to a car parked down the street. Opened the door for her.

Melissa slid in. He followed.

“Where are we going?” she asked as the driver pulled away.

“You’ll see.”

They drove through the city. Manhattan giving way to Brooklyn. Then to a neighborhood Melissa didn’t recognize.

Tree-lined streets. Brownstones. Quiet and residential.

The car stopped in front of a beautiful building.

“What is this?” Melissa asked.

“Come see.”

Gavin led her inside. Up stairs to the third floor. Stopped at a door marked 3C.

He pulled out a key and unlocked it. Pushed it open.

The apartment beyond was… perfect. It was very modern and homely looking.

“Whose apartment is this?” Melissa asked.

“Ours. If you want it.”

She turned to stare at him. “What?”

“I bought it six months ago. Been furnishing it and making it perfect.” Gavin walked into the space. Gestured around. “I didn’t know if you’d ever want to live with me. But I hoped. So I prepared.”

Melissa followed him inside. Touched the couch. The bookshelf was already filled with books she recognized from her wish lists. The art on the walls…prints of paintings Aria had done.

“You did this for me?”

“For us.” He turned to face her. “If you want there to be an us.”

She walked to him. Put her hands on his chest. Felt his heart racing beneath her palms.

“I want there to be an us,” she said. “I’m terrified. But I want it anyway.”

“Then stay.” His hands covered hers. “Move in with me. Let me love you every day. Let me prove that we can have something normal. Something good.”

I’ve spent two years making sure there’s nothing left that could touch you. Touch us.” He brought her hands to his lips. Kissed each knuckle. “I’m just a boring Safe man with no strange family ties. Exactly what you need.”

“You could never be boring.”

“Then safe. I can be safe for you.”

Melissa looked around the apartment again. At the home he’d built for them. At the future he was offering.

Two years ago, she would have run. Would have been too scared. Too broken.

But now…

Now she was ready.

“Okay,” she said.

“Okay?”

“Yes. Okay. I’ll move in with you.” She smiled through her tears. “I love you, Gavin Cross. And I want to build a life with you. A normal, boring, safe life.”

He kissed her then. Lifted her up. Carried her through the apartment to a bedroom she hadn’t seen yet.

Set her down gently on a bed that was soft and perfect and theirs.

“Te amo, mi amor,” he murmured. “Mi vida. Mi corazón. Mi todo.”

My love. My life. My heart. My everything.

“I love you too,” she whispered back.

And for the first time in two years…maybe for the first time ever…she believed it completely.

No fear. No doubt. No shadows from the past.

Just love.

Pure. Simple. True.

Gavin kissed her again. Slower this time. Taking his time.

“Welcome home, piccola,” he breathed against her lips.

“Home,” she repeated.

Yes.

This was home.

Not a place. Not an apartment. But this. Him. Them. Together.

Finally.

Completely.

Forever.

Outside, the city hummed with life. Inside, they had everything they needed.

Each other.

And that was enough.

More than enough.

It was everything.