Page 131 of The Lucky One

A slow dance began, and everyone found their partners. Breana and Madison became the unexpected center of attention, eliciting gasps from the crowd as a new couple. Danielle and Timo, enduring high school sweethearts, glided gracefully across the dance floor. Paul and Kiki were lost in each other’s eyes. Hannah and Brandon stood giggling by the punch bowl, not interested in dancing. I searched the crowd for Aiden but he was sitting on the bleachers, two girls wrapped around his arms, fighting for his attention.

Jon smiled at me shyly. “Wanna dance?” he asked, so carefully that my heartbeat wandered up my throat.

“Sure.”

He took my hand and led me to an open spot on the dance floor. Flashing lights played across his face as he put his hands on my waist. He was a good dancer, guiding me with ease around the other couples. I followed effortlessly.

“How come you’re such a great dancer?” I asked, not even afraid to stumble over my own feet.

“I told you, I’m a man of many talents.” He winked and twirled me under his arm before pulling me close to his chest. We stayed on the spot now, shifting from one leg to the other. I couldn’t take my eyes away from him—it was like my brain had stopped working. I was under his spell.

He brushed his thumb over my cheek, tracing the mark I used to hide. “I love your birthmark,” he said. “I love... everything about you.”

Then the song changed: “Fix You” by Coldplay.

I gasped. “Was that—”

“Yep, me.” He smirked, and I let out a shaky breath. We continued dancing, holding each other close. “You know, in a way, you did it. You fixed me, Little German.”

I shook my head. “No, we fixed each other, Jon. I wasn’t this perfect girl when I came here, and you saw that. You helped me. I’m not afraid of going back to Germany anymore.”

“I know we missed a few weeks, but I never broke our rule #3.”

“You wrote it all down?”

“Yeah, every single day... Heck, every hour.”

“I lost my black book!” I blurted out. “I’m so sorry, but I think I forgot it on the bus.”

Jon reached into his jacket. “You mean this one?”

As he pulled it out, I couldn’t believe my eyes. “How did you find it?”

“I didn’t, Bred did.”

“Bred?” I raised my brow, remembering the homeless guy I had shared my jail cell with.

“Yep, he approached me on the street. I almost didn’t recognize him. He wants me to tell you that he’s rooting for us.”

I laughed out loud. “Remind me to buy him a sandwich as a thank you.”

Jon’s eyes flickered with a new fire—a lighter one, nourished, burning strong. He asked, “Do you think you can give me one last chance?”

Maybe Paul was right... Maybe Jon and I were meant to be together. We had been through too much not to get the happy ending we deserved. I was the only one standing between us now.

“Fuck!” I said, making Jon laugh.

“What?”

“It’s weird... It’s like I have this new faith that whatever happens is supposed to happen. I’ve been such a wreck this year, and yet somehow I discover that I can still feel so much happiness. So whatever comes next... I’m ready, Jon. I’m not afraid, I’m brave.”

“You’re the bravest person I know,” he said. “I love you so much.”

I rested my head on his chest and listened to the rhythm of his heart. “I love you too.”

In that moment, surrounded by hundreds of people, it felt like it was only us. Two hearts coming together as one. I wanted him—as much of him as I could get. I lifted my head from his chest and looked up at him. “I’m on birth control now...”

Jon grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd toward the exit.

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