I wondered when and how it would happen. I tried to figure out who would say it first, and if he did, if I could say it back and mean it, and if I did, if it would put too much pressure on him. In the end, it was as natural as would be expected in a relationship that has just seem to fit from the beginning.
Monday, E and I celebrated 2 months living together as a family. We got Chinese take-out (it was also Chinese New Year). Tuesday, we had a rough day. He came home with a detention slip and spent most of the evening giving me the silent treatment, and I wasn’t feeling well. Wednesday we were pretty much back to normal. That night, as I tucked him in to bed, freshly showered after his basketball game, and leaned over to hug him, he said it: “Love you.”
I squeezed him a little tighter, and replied, “I love you, too.”
And I absolutely meant it.
birch & raven 