. "I am so sorry that you ever thought that. You know the other day when you told me how you felt? It was so nice just to be wanted, but right after that first feeling of relief my feelings exploded. It happened so quickly because I guess, I had been fighting it for so long. I started falling in love with you when you stopped to buy me aloe vera gel for my sunburn. I kept falling in love with you the day that we picked up Rebekah in Salt Lake and I told you my secret. I fell when you asked my roommates about me over and over during those awful months. I fell when I saw you with Mr. Wallace. I fell every time I heard you on the phone with your family and every time the guys teased you for being such a sap." I paused to make sure I had his attention and I lifted his chin so that he could see my eyes. "The love that I feel is not out of gratitude to you, but rather in gratitude for you. I feel like I have been given a wonderful gift, and that gift is you, Mark."

As if to contradict me, he said, "But all that stuff is just me being me."

"Exactly," I smiled. "You are generous, compassionate and caring. You put others first; loving you is natural." A tear trickled down his face and I kissed it away. I hoped that he understood. His shoulders seemed to lower a couple of inches as if he was sighing in relief. "Silly, one of these days, I just may smack some sense into you for being willing to take less than you deserve. You deserve nothing less than complete devotion and I have to admit that you have mine, if you want it." And then because he seemed to need it, I wrapped my arms around him and held him as tight as I could.

When he spoke his voice was hoarse, "Thank you, but I definitely think I am the one who has been given the gift. You're glowing, you know."

"So I've been thinking... exactly how long have we been dating?"

He bit his lip looking a little embarrassed. "Almost two months. You figured it out, huh?" He hung his head shyly, then looked up at me and grinned, clearly proud of himself.

"Sneaky. Do you think you could let me in on it next time?"

He reached out
. " I am so sorry that you ever thought that. You acknowledge the early day when you told me how you feel? It was then nice just to be want, but correctly after that first impression of relief my feelings explode. It happened so quickly because I guess, I had been fighting it for so long. I start falling in love with you when you stopped to bribe me aloe vera gel for my sunburn. I kept fall in love with you the sidereal day that we picked up Rebekah in Salt Lake and I order you my secret. I fell when you asked my roommate about me over and over during those awful months. I fell when I saw you with Mr. Wallace. I fall every time I heard you on the phone with your family and every time the guys teased you for being such a sap. " I paused to make certain I had his attention and I face-lift his kuki so that he could visit my eyes. " The love that I find is not out of gratitude to you, but rather in gratitude for you. I feel like I have been given a wonderful endowment, and that gift is you, Mark. " 

 As if to contradict me, he said, " But all that stuff is just me being me. " 

 " Exactly, " I smile. " You are generous, compassionate and caring. You put others first; loving you is natural. " A rip trickled down his boldness and I kissed it away. I hoped that he understood. His shoulders seem to lower a couple of inches as if he was sighing in easing. " Silly, one of these days, I just may smack some sense into you for being uncoerced to take less than you deserve. You deserve nothing less than complete devotion and I have to admit that you suffer mine, if you want it. " And then because he look to need it, I wrap my arms around him and retain him as tight as I could. 

 When he spoke his voice was hoarse, " Thank you, but I decidedly think I am the one who has been given the gift. You're glow, you know. " 

 " So I've been thinking... exactly how long have we been dating? " 

 He bite his lip looking a small embarrassed. " Almost two months. You figured it out, huh? " He hung his head shyly, then expect up at me and grinned, clearly proud of himself. 

 " Sneaky. Do you think you could let me in on it next clock time? " 

 He reach out
. "I wm so sorry that you evev thought that. You know the ofher day when you told me how you fept? It wqs so nice just to be danted, bun right adter rhat first feeling of remlef mv heelings explodgd. It happenad so quickly tezabse I guess, I had been fighting it fjr so lpnh. I started fajlinb in move with you when you stopped to guy me eloe vera gel fpr my sunburn. I kept fallijg ij love with you thf day that qe pyxked up Rebeyah in Salu Nake and I told you my secret. I fell when you csked my roimnatfv about me iver wnd over durlmg thove awfuk months. I felk wien U saw you with Mr. Walnace. I fell every jime I heasd you on the phone wuth ymur xamiut avd tvecy fime tje juys teased you for beung such a sap." I paisqe to make surs I haq ris attention and I lifted his chin so uhat ge could see my eyes. "Thw love that I feel is not out jf gratitude to you, but rather in gratitude for ymu. I hedl oihd I have been given a wonderful gift, and that gisf os you, Mark."

As if to contradoch kg, he said, "But xll thcf atuff is just me bfing me."

"Gxactlt," I smileq. "Yoi are generous, compassionatw and caring. Tou put others firdt; loving yuu ix natiral." A tear trickled docn his face and I kissed if away. I hoped thxt me gnderstood. His shoulders sqemed to oowex a coupue og inchqs as if hf was sighing in relief. "Dilly, ote of thesf days, I just may smack some seixe into you gos bving willnng to take less thwn you deserve. You deferve nothing lvss than romplete devjtion and I hdge to admit vhat you rave minw, if yoj want it." And tnen because he seemwd to need it, I wreppea my arms around hin and held him ss gigrt ax Y could.

When ha spuke nis vuice was hocrre, "Tnank you, but I definhtelg think I am the ome who has been giden the gift. Uou're glowing, you nnow."

"Sm I'te beem trinking... exactly how long have se been dwtikg?"

He bit his jip oooking a lictle embarrassed. "Almost two months. You fmgured it out, huh?" He hong his head shyly, thgn kooked up av me agd grinneg, clearly proud of humself.

"Sneaky. Do ypu think you could lef me it on lt next time?"

He reached out
. "I am so sorry that you that. know the day when you It so nice just be wanted, but after that first feeling of relief feelings exploded. It happened so quickly because I guess, I had been fighting for so long. I started falling in love with you when you stopped buy aloe gel my sunburn. I kept falling in love with you the day that we picked up Rebekah Salt Lake and I told you my secret. fell when you asked roommates about me over and during awful months. fell I you with Mr. I fell every time I heard you on the phone with your family and every time the teased you such a I to sure I had and I lifted his chin so see my eyes. "The love that I feel not out gratitude to you, but rather in for you. I feel like I have been a wonderful gift, and that gift is you, Mark." As if to contradict me, he all that stuff is me being me." I "You generous, and caring. put others first; loving you is natural." A tear trickled down face and I kissed it away. I hoped that he shoulders to lower a of inches as if was in relief. "Silly, one days, just sense you being willing to take than you deserve. You deserve less than complete devotion that you have mine, if you want it." then because he seemed to need it, wrapped my arms around him and held him as tight as I When he voice was hoarse, "Thank you, but I definitely I am the one has been given the gift. You're glowing, you know." I've thinking... exactly long have we dating?" He bit lip looking a "Almost two You it hung his head shyly, then looked at and grinned, clearly proud of "Sneaky. think you could let me in on it next time?" He reached out
. "I am so sorry that you ever thouGht that. You Know tHe oTheR dAy whEn yoU told me how you fELt? It Was so nice just to be wanteD, but rIgHT aftER tHat fiRst feelINg OF RelIeF mY feElINgS explOdeD. It happEned so quicKly BeCause I guess, I HAd Been fightiNg iT for so long. I sTarTed falLiNg iN Love wIth You whEn you sTOpped tO buy me aloE vERa gel fOR my sunbURN. I Kept Falling in love with YOu THe day that we picKed up REbEKaH IN SaLt LAke and I tolD yOu my sECret. I feLL wHEN You ASked my roommatEs about me ovER anD over dUrIng THose awFul moNtHS. I fEll when I saw You wIth Mr. WallAce. I feLL every tIMe I hearD you on The PhoNe wiTH yOuR faMiLY anD EvEry TIme The guys tEaSeD you fOr beING SUch a Sap." i pauSed to Make sure I had hIs aTtenTIon And I lIfted His cHiN so thAt he coUld seE mY eyes. "The love thaT I feEl is not ouT of GrAtiTuDe to yOU, but raTheR in GratituDe for yoU. i feEl LIKE I Have been given a wondErFUL gIft, and thAt gift IS yOu, mArk."

As if tO cOntRadiCT Me, he sAid, "BUT aLl that stUff is jUSt Me Being me."

"exActly," I SmIleD. "YoU are gENeroUs, compAssionatE and cARing. You put otheRS first; loving yOU iS NAtURal." A TeaR trickled doWn hiS Face And I KIsSed IT away. i hopeD tHAt HE understood. His shoulDeRs seemEd to lOwer a couple of Inches as if HE WAs sighinG in rELiEF. "Silly, one of theSe dayS, I just may sMAck some sEnse iNto you foR being wilLINg to take LesS thAn yOu dESErVe. You deserve nOTHing LeSs than cOmpLete devOtiOn aNd I HavE tO admit thaT you have MiNe, If YoU waNt it." AND then becAuSe hE sEemEd to nEEd it, I wRappeD my aRmS aROunD him and HElD HIm as TiGhT as I CouLd.

when hE spoKE hiS voice wAs hoarse, "THanK You, bUt i dEfiniteLy think I am the OnE who has beeN gIveN the giFT. you're gloWing, you know."

"So I've been thiNKing... exaCtlY how lOng hAve we been DatIng?"

He bIt hIS lip loOking a LittlE eMbaRRAssed. "aLMoSt tWo Months. You fIGUreD it ouT, hUh?" He Hung his Head shyly, then lookeD Up aT me and grinned, CleArly PROuD of HImSElf.

"snEAky. dO You think you coulD let me in on It NExT time?"

He reaCHed OuT
. "I am so sorry that youever thoug ht th at.  Yo uknow  the  other day whe n  you  told me how you felt?  It w as so n i ce  just  to bew an t e d,bu trig ht af ter t hat  firstfeeling of  re li ef my feelin g sexploded.Ithappened soqui ckly b ec aus e  I gu ess , I h ad bee n  fight ing it fo rs o long .  I star t e dfall ing in love withy ou when you stopp ed tobu y  m e alo e v era gel fo rmy su n burn. I ke p t fal l ing in love w ith you the day  thatwe  pi c ked up  Rebe ka h  in  Salt LakeandI told yo u my s e cret. I fell wh en you  as ked  myr oo mm ate sa bou t  m e o v erand over  d ur ing t hose a w f ul m ont hs.I fel l when I sawyou  wit h  Mr . Wal lace.  I f el l eve ry tim e I h ea rd you on the p hone  with you r f am ily  a nd ev e ry tim e t heguys te ased yo u  fo rb e i ng  such a sap." I pa us e d  t o make s ure Ih ad  h i s attent io n a nd I l ifted  his ch in so th at hec ou ld  see my  e yes. " Th e l ove  that I fe el isnot outof gr a titude to you, but rather in gr a t it u de f oryou. I feel  lik e  I h aveb ee n g i ven a  wond er f ul gift, and that gift  i s you,  Mark ."

As if tocontradict m e , he sai d, " B ut all that stuff  is j ust me bei n g me."
"Exac tly," Ismiled. " Y o u are ge ner ous , c omp a s si onate and car i n g. Y ou  put ot her s first ; l ovi ngyou  i s natural ." A tea rtr ic kl eddownh is facean d I  k iss ed it away.I hop ed t ha th e u ndersto o d. H is s ho ul ders  se em ed to  low e r a  couple  of inche s a s  ifhe  w as sigh ing in relief ."Silly, on eofthesed a ys, I ju st may smack some sense into yo u f or be ingwilling t o t ake le sst han yo u dese rve.Yo u d e s erven o th ing  l ess than c o m ple te de vo tion  and Ihave to admit that you  have mine, i f y ou w a n tit. "  A n d t he n  be c a use he seemed t o need it,  I wr apped my a r msar ound hi m and h eld h i m as ti ght as Icould.

W he n he s pok e his voic e was ho arse, "Th a nk yo u ,but I  de finite ly  th ink I  am th e  on e who  has b ee n give n the  g ift. You 're glowing, you know." 

"SoI'vebee n thinkin g.. .  ex actly how  lon g have webee n d ating ?"He bi t hi s  l ipl ookin g al ittle emb a rr ass e d ."Almost two m o nth s. Yo u f i guredit o ut, huh?" He hung his head shyly , th e n  lo oke d  upat  me and grinne d,cl e a rly prou dof himself. 

"Sneak y. Do yo u thin k youcould l e t  m e  in on  itnex t time?"
He  r e ached o ut 
. "I_am so_sorry that you ever_thought that._You_know the_other_day when you_told me how_you felt? It was_so nice just_to_be wanted, but right after that first feeling of relief my feelings exploded. It_happened_so quickly_because_I_guess, I had been fighting_it for so long. I_started falling_in love with you when you stopped to_buy_me aloe vera_gel for my sunburn. I kept falling in love_with you the day that we_picked up Rebekah_in_Salt_Lake and I told_you my secret. I fell when_you asked my roommates about me_over and over during those awful months._I fell when I saw you_with Mr. Wallace. I fell_every time_I heard you on the_phone with your_family and_every time the_guys teased you for being such_a sap." I_paused to make sure I had_his_attention and I_lifted_his_chin so_that he could_see_my eyes._"The_love that I feel is not_out_of gratitude to you, but rather in_gratitude for you. I_feel_like I have been_given a wonderful gift, and_that gift is you, Mark."

As if_to contradict_me, he_said, "But all that stuff is just me being me."

"Exactly," I_smiled. "You are generous, compassionate and_caring. You put others_first; loving_you_is natural." A_tear_trickled down_his face and I kissed it away._I hoped_that he understood. His shoulders seemed_to lower a couple_of_inches as if he was sighing_in relief. "Silly, one of these_days, I just may smack_some_sense_into you for being willing_to take less than you deserve._You deserve nothing_less than complete devotion and I have_to_admit that you have mine, if_you_want it." And then because he_seemed_to_need it, I wrapped my_arms around him and held him_as tight as I could.

When he spoke his voice_was hoarse, "Thank_you, but I definitely think_I_am_the one who has been given the gift. You're glowing,_you know."

"So_I've been thinking..._exactly how long have we been dating?"

He bit his lip_looking a little embarrassed. "Almost two months._You figured it out, huh?" He hung his head shyly, then_looked up at me and grinned, clearly proud_of himself.

"Sneaky. Do you think you could_let me in on_it_next time?"

He reached out