Page 114 of Jump on Three

“We can talk about it. If it’s too much, we will talk tomorrow and I will try like hell to understand. But I would like you to stay so I can hold you, not for you, but for me. I need to have you in my arms right now. I’m shaky after seeing you with Layla and what you just told me about your last school. Can you stay…for me?”

The vulnerability in his urgent request had me raising my head to search his face. There was no anger waiting for me. Frustration had been replaced with worry, creasing his brow. The corners of his mouth were downturned, not in anger but sadness.

Had I gotten him wrong?

He wasn’t shoving me out the door. He was doing the opposite, asking me to stay.

“You’re not breaking up with me?” I blurted.

Ivan jerked back as if he’d been slapped. “Fuck no. I love you. I would not break up with you.”

“I—It seemed like you were breaking up with me. We can’t come to an agreement about something important, so how can we stay together?”

“We do not give up on something as important as this because of one disagreement.”

“Then what should we do?” I asked.

“We will talk about it more, to see each other’s sides. We might not ever agree, but that doesn’t mean I want you any less. Does it mean that for you?”

I shook my head hard. “No. I adore how protective you are over me.”

“And I adore how protective you are over your sister.” He slipped his hands beneath my hair to cup my nape and the side of my throat. “I know about Layla now, so I will ask that you do not keep anything from me. If she comes at you, I want to know so I can step in and deal with her.”

My heart was fluttering in my throat, unsure whether to be broken or swollen with love. It was probably some of both.

Ivan wasn’t breaking up with me. I’d been so sure…but I had been wrong. Disagreements didn’t have to mean the end of everything.

And he loved me.

That would take some time to sink in.

“Okay,” I agreed softly.

“Okay?” His thumb stroked my jaw in a hypnotizing rhythm.

“Yes. You can step in if Layla comes at me again. But I don’t think you need to worry about that after the way you spoke to her earlier. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d peed her pants.”

“Yeah? Was I scary?”

“Really scary. I hope never to make you that mad.”

“Evelyn.” He rolled his forehead along mine. “There is nothing you can do to make me angry like that. That level of anger is reserved for people who hurt those I love.”

“Okay.”

“You and that word…” He huffed a dry laugh. “I wish I’d known you in Spain. I would have saved you from that.”

“I’m glad you know me now. I wasn’t ready for you back then.”

“Now you are?”

“Well…I don’t think so, but I’m going to make myself ready since I want to keep you.”

He lifted his head to touch his lips to mine. “That is not a problem since I am keeping you.” He kissed me twice more. “Will you sleep here tonight?”

“That’s not…I don’t do that. I’m particular about my bedtime and sleep, and I don’t think you’re ready for any of it.”

“I’m ready.”

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