Page 18 of The Score

His thumb caresses my cheek. "You're my favorite person, Pen."

He doesn't say 'I love you', and this is his way of doing it without using the words. One day he may not say that to me again, if he finds love and he makes a life with them. I always knew it would hurt to see him focus on his own family one day in the future, but this way it may hurt more. Because I will know what it was like, for a while, to have him all to myself. Like friendship with me was perfectly enough for him, too.

"I'll ask one more time," he says, "just so you know I mean it, but if you really can't see yourself doing this with me… all you have to do is tell me no once more. I won't insist. Nothing has to change. The bucket list can be it."

"It's not that, it's…" I frown. "I'm afraid of what comes after. When you find the woman of your dreams after we divorce… Or what if she shows up while we're still legally together?"

"Oh." He smirks. "If that's your only concern…"

He cradles my head and kisses my forehead.

"I take it you're not worried," I say.

He never is, when it's about us.

He shakes his head. "Not in the least."

"If you're sure…"

Rather than giving me an answer, Leon Karlsen goes down on one knee.