Page 88 of Crossroads of Love

“Besides,” Jayla continues, “I'm totally tougher now. I can handle it.”

Lena’s lips curve just slightly, and she shrugs. “If you say so.”

Satisfied with that answer, Jayla beams and leans into Lena, resting her head against her. I notice the way Lena tenses at first before she relaxes, resting her hand gently on Jayla’s shoulder. There’s a slight shift in her posture as if she’s trying, even though it’s clear her mind is elsewhere.

I grab another slice of pizza, watching them. I wish I could freeze moments like these in time.

“Jayla, what’s your favorite part of the movie? Since you’ve seen it so many times.”

She sits up, wiping her greasy fingers on her pajama pants, something Lena would usually scold her for, but tonight, she doesn’t seem to notice. “Oh, definitely the part where they’re in space, and the ship explodes, and everyone’s floating around in zero gravity! It’s so cool!”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re not scared of floating away in space? No air, nothing to hold on to?”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Pfft. I’d find a way back. I’m not scared of anything.”

Lena lets out a soft snort, and I glance over at her, catching the small flicker of amusement on her face. “That’s good to know. We’ll keep that in mind for when we inevitably get lost in space,” she says dryly, nudging Jayla lightly.

Jayla giggles, glancing up at her mom with a wide grin. “See? You get it.”

Lena’s eyes meet mine for just a second before she looks away, her smile fading. My chest tightens a bit, seeing her retreat again.

As the movie continues, I try to focus on the screen, but my eyes keep drifting toward Lena. Her shoulders are stiff, and her expression is tight, like she’s holding something in. Jayla, on the other hand, is completely immersed in the movie.

When the credits finally roll, Jayla stretches out and lets out a loud yawn. “Okay, I’m definitely not scared of aliens, but I might be scared of falling asleep on the couch,” she teases.

I chuckle, standing up and stretching. “All right, kiddo. Time to hit the hay. You’ve got school in the morning.”

She pouts but nods, too tired to put up much of a fight. She hugs us both before scurrying up the steps.

When we’re alone, I push off the couch and step toward Lena, my heart racing a little as I close the distance. She doesn’t pull away, but her eyes flicker up to meet mine, guarded.

“Lena…” I start, keeping my voice gentle. “You don’t have to keep doing this alone, you know? I’m here for good. I’m not going to move back to the city.”

She swallows hard, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I know,” she whispers, but there’s a crack in her voice that tells me she doesn’t believe it. “I’m not used to…having someone to help. It’s going to take me a bit to get used to it.”

I step closer, reaching out to gently cup her chin. She tilts her face up to look at me. Her eyes search mine as if looking for something—reassurance, safety, maybe even a way out.

Her breath hitches. She leans into me, her forehead resting against my chest, and I wrap my arms around her, holding her close.

“I’m scared, Gavin,” she admits, her voice barely a whisper. “Hank showing up here really freaked me out. I could lose everything because of Aaron. What if…what if Hank wants money or he’ll tell everyone about Aaron taking bribes. It’ll ruin my career as mayor. I’ll never…”

Holding her tighter, I press my lips to the top of her head. “I’m not going to let that happen.”

She nods against my chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt as if grounding herself. We stand there for a long moment, just holding each other, the quiet hum of the house surrounding us. I wrap my arms tighter around her and hope she can feel how much I love her through my actions. I don’t think she’s ready to hear me say those words yet.

Eventually, she pulls back just enough to look up at me, her eyes searching mine. “Thank you,” she whispers.

I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering against her skin. “You don’t have to thank me,” I say softly. “This is where I want to be.”

Her eyes soften, and for the first time tonight, I see the walls start to come down. She leans up, her lips brushing mine in a soft, hesitant kiss like she’s testing the waters. I can feel the heat between us, the tension that’s been building all night, but I’m careful, gentle, taking my time, not wanting to push her too far, too fast.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she whispers, her hand resting against my chest. “I was angry when you came home, but…I’m so glad that you finally did.”

“You’ll never have to find out. I’m not going anywhere ever again.”

It’s the truth. As the words leave my mouth, I know I’ve never wanted anything more than this life with Lena. I bought an engagement ring eighteen years ago and intend to make that a reality.

She lets out a shaky breath, her fingers tracing the lines of my jaw before she steps back, creating just a little space between us. “Do you mean that?”

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