Page 30 of Loving Jared

Jenna burst out laughing and shook her head. "That man is exactly like Vincent, which means you're not going to win that argument. Prepare for a whole lot of free time coming up, sweetheart."

Amy wanted to be offended. She even looked deep inside to try and decide if she was offended, but she really wasn't. She knew what Jared was all about. He was big, pushy and used to getting his own way. Amy was smallish, easy-going and flexible. She could already tell he was going to win the argument.

Amy and Jenna picked the girls up and quickly switched gears into child mode. They listened all the way back to the house with rapt attention while the girls outlined their entire day. When they got back to the house, Jenna suggested going to pick up Lola and Vincent Junior and having a big family and friends dinner to treat the guys for moving Amy's stuff. Amy enthusiastically agreed and sent Jenna out the door to pick up her kids while she cleaned the kitchen.

A few hours later, Vincent, Jenna, Lola and the baby, Enrico, Amy, Jared, Millie, Sarah and Teagan all gathered together at Jared's house. They ate ridiculous amounts of burgers, hot dogs, chips, vegetables and sliced fruit. The kids each had an ice cream for dessert and went to play in the backyard. Teagan stayed inside with the adults. Amy was amused to note that his eyes lingered on Vincent and Jared with a kind of hero worship. Having spent time with the two men, Amy had come to realize that they had a deep sense of honour and friendship. Her brother was in good hands.

Later, after everyone left, Amy and Jared cleaned up while Teagan offered to help get the girls ready for bed. All in all, it was the best family gathering Amy had experienced since her mother died.

The thought left an ache in her chest, and she froze where she was standing, her hands half in the sudsy dishwater of the sink.

"Everything okay?" Jared asked from behind her, curving a hand over her shoulder and squeezing.

Amy nodded and tried to smile, looking up to reassure him, but the moment their eyes locked, the tears began to trickle down and her lips trembled.

"Baby," Jared said with concern, turning her around. Ignoring the water streaming off her hands, he pulled her into his embrace. He smoothed the hair down her back and kissed her forehead. "Talk to me."

She tried, she really did. She tried to put into words everything she was feeling. Grateful, fulfilled, sad, aching, hopeful. Nothing came out.

As if he understood, Jared held her close and let the silence fill the kitchen. Finally, when she was able to, Amy lifted her head and looked at him.

"Thank you for everything. Honestly, you’ve changed so much about our lives. I don't deserve you."

Jared slid his thumbs under her eyes, gathering the moisture. "You deserve everything good in the world. You are everything good in the world."

She took a deep tremulous breath. "I think I'm in love with you."

She hadn't meant to say it. At least, she hadn’t meant to say it like that, but she didn't regret it. Amy was an open and honest person, she tended to wear her heart on her sleeve. She had no problem with Jared knowing how she felt. That way there would be fewer misunderstandings. But she’d planned a more romantic moment for actually verbalizing her feelings.

Her heart thundered as she waited for his response. At first, his gaze was shuttered, almost frozen as he looked down at her. Then he surprised her by whooping out loud, so loudly that Amy jumped back. He grabbed her by the arms, lifted her off the ground and swung her around. Amy laughed and reached down to grip his shoulders until he set her back on her feet.

"Since the moment I set eyes on you, I've been waiting to hear those words." He bent over and kissed her, taking her lips in a stinging kiss that had her gasping for air. "I love you so fucking much, baby."

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