[ she's not sure what she's expecting - not anything. maybe it's not important how he reacts as long as she's said it. (she knows what she wants, what's important to her. she knows the first person she thought about was him when zatanna said robin was gone, and she knows that matters.
so does caroline, and so does sam...
she went looking for him after the luau because she was afraid to lose him, because no matter the consequences or anyone else's feelings, she wanted to keep him with her. knew he would never leave if he knew, if she made it clear she wouldn't settle for him disappearing.
he loves her, and it's a tool to use, a way to survive, something she's felt loathed to want or accept and has wanted and accepted all the same in equal measure.
this time she needs him to know, wants him to hear it. at the root of her pain over all this, the hardest part has been not saying it, believing for his own reasons he wouldn't want to hear it. knowing he believes in those reasons.
she loves him.) she pulls in a breath she holds at his response. it's flippant and evasive to anyone else, probably. but it softens and chides her, just a little. the trouble she feels is still there. knowing he's done awful things has never truly has slipped her mind; how she feels about him hasn't either.
she exhales. ] I want you to know that, Damon. I want you to know because [ she pauses - ] I want you and I know you want me too. This is what you do; you look at something good and decide to ruin it because you don't think you deserve it. And I'm telling you now: I'm not going to let you pull that with us. I love you, Damon; you mean too much to me.