I Introduce The Selfish Machine

I walked back into my studio to see Tony on the couch with a worried look on his face. He stood up as soon as I stepped inside.
"Piper, where were you?" He asked.
I bit my lip. I wasn't going to cry again. If anything, I was happy. Daddy knew Tony was the right person to love. "It's my uh- it's my dad's birthday so I went to his grave." I said.
Tony walked up to me and put his hands on my hip. "Oh, okay. Are you okay, baby?"
I nodded my head. "I'm good. I just sat there and talked to him, and drank a beer with him."
"That explains the smell."
I laughed. "Oh shh, Tony. Anyway, I talked to him about you and baseball."
"Me?"
"Yeah."
Tony nodded his head and smiled. "Does he approve?" Tony asked.
"I love you." I said, staring straight into his brown eyes.
Tony was shocked. "Piper, I don't want you to say it unless you mean it."
"No, Tony, I mean it. I love you. I wouldn't say it unless I meant it. Love is a powerful word that too many people throw around, and the only people I've ever loved is my family. The only man I've ever loved was my father, and sitting there, talking to him today showed me that my dad is always with me, and that the feelings I'm feeling for you are completely real. Tony, I love you. I love you. I love you, and I wouldn't say it unless my dad approved. I love you."
Tony smiled at me, and then picked me up and spun me around. I couldn't help but laugh. Once he placed me back on my feet, he kissed my head, then my forehead, and then my cheek.
"Ah, Tony, stop!" I cried, laughing.
He kept kissing me in a silly way. He was happy, and he was making me happy. "I love you." He said.
I smiled, big. "I love you too."
"How does that feel, saying I love you to someone?"
"Really weird, I feel like I can't breathe right now. But, it's a good weird."
His face got close to mine, our lips almost touching. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"I believe you." And I actually did.
He grabbed the back of my neck, tilting my face up to his for a kiss. He kissed me with such a passion. He pulled away, the heat of his breath still on my lips. "I love you, always." He whispered.
"I love you, always." Tony's lips collided with mine yet again.
Love exists. In forms you don't even see coming. Love came in the form of Tony Perry, and I'm so grateful that it came that way. I know he's love because of my father, and my daddy would never let anyone hurt me. That's how I know it's real, and that it's going to burn. Everything burns at some point. And although love may burn (only for a little bit), it's worth it. Always.

Notes