“I love you.” I stopped smiling, puzzled by his words. My heart instantly hoped he meant romantically, but my mind stopped my heart before the hope could set it.

“I love you,” he said. As a friend right? No, He probably just loves me like a sister. He would never think of me that way, I reasoned. His eyebrow furled with worry. I smiled at him to assure him I heard his words.

“Love you, too, Elv...