In kind

“I…I love you, Zack!”

“Wai—? Wha—?” he muttered.

“I said ‘I love you, Zack!’”

“Heather?” Zack whispered.

“I’m sorry! I know it’s too early to say that, so please don’t be mad at me! I’ve wanted to be with you for so long, I just can’t help it. It’s how I feel about you, Zack! I love you so much it hurts!” Heather bit her lip as she waited for Zack to respond.

Zack froze for a second. Throughout their friendship, of all the things Heather Ravers could possibly say to him, those three little words were always last on the list. Even when she told him she planned the entire trip around him, he didn't think she'd ever tell him she loves him. Yet there he was with those words echoing in his ears. And for some odd reason, she was apologizing for it. As he absorbed his girlfriend’s admission of her feelings, Zack watched as tears began working their way down Heather’s cheeks.

“Aww! Baby, don’t apologize! I love you too!” he told his girlfriend as he dried her tears with the back of his hand.

“ZACK! NO! You CAN’T love me yet! You’ve only had feelings for me for TWO DAY! IT’S TOO SOON FOR YOU!” Heather cried.

“Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Take it from someone who knows: It’s never too soon to tell someone you love them. But it can always be too late. I never got to tell my dad that before he died.” Zack choked back a tear as he informed the brunette in his arms of how he didn’t get to see his dad before his passing. “Now, I do have to admit that this trip has been full of unexpected surprises. And I know our relationship is just starting. But you have to believe me when I tell you that I love you!”

Heather cried tears of joy as Zack pulled her in for a kiss. Unlike her previous tears, Zack let these flow freely from her eyes for the sole purpose of letting them mix with his own.