Page 64 of Stephan

Stephan’s hand came and rubbed my backsoothing me. “I know you do.”

Hey, the wanker. He didn’t. I’d never toldhim. Lifting my head I glared at him. “Really? I’m scared to deathand blurt out I love you and you came back with that?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “You didn’t tellme anything I didn’t know.”

I let his hand go and leaned back in my ownchair. “I haven’t told you before and I know it was a shitty timeto say it but how do you know?”

He shrugged again, which totally pissed meoff. “If you didn’t love me you’d never have come back to me. You’dnever put up with me, you would have run.”

I opened my mouth but he put his hand up.

“You’ve been through a lot in your life,Jade. I knew as soon as you turned eighteen if you didn’t love meyou would have gone back to your old neighborhood and friends andleft me. I’m sure your friends or Jess’s mother would have happilytaken you in. You stuck around though.”

I sat there gawking at him. How had hefigured it out before me? As he spoke, everything he said clickedinto place.

“You could have gotten a restraining order onme from day one. You know how to do them, you have three others onfriends of your mother. Even when you had one on me you didn’tchange schools or go back to your old school and friends, whichwould have been a lot easier. You wouldn’t have acted so hurt witheverything that happened if you didn’t love me. You even love myfamily. That’s why you were so hesitant to forgive my mum andbrother.”

“How?” Everything he said was true and Ihadn’t even noticed.

“It took me time to figure it out and myfamily helped me. My mum was so hurt you wouldn’t go out or dothings with her, but when I asked her she told me she understood.It would be hard for you because you put your trust in us and welet you down like everyone else important in your life. You lovedus but were scared we’d break you again. Brand told me I had brokenyou. When he explained it, I saw what I’d done. You were coming outof your shell and we broke you because we gave you things youthought you’d never have.”

I could feel the tears running down my cheeksas I stared, stunned, at Stephan. Everything he said was true. Itmade me wonder. “Why do you love me? I haven’t done anythingspecial for you to fall for me.”

“How the hell could you say that? You havegiven me so much. I have learned so much.” He raised his hand,stroking my cheek, brushing away my tears. “Before you I didn’tknow what love was. You’ve shown me. Jade, you love peopleunconditionally, even people who don’t deserve your love, like yourgrandfather and mother. You cleaned your grandpa’s house and cookedhis meals. I bet you even did his washing.”

I had. I did everything I could to show him Iwasn’t useless and I could help him. I’d done the same for mymother. She never cooked, cleaned, or washed anything, I did itall. I had wondered once if she thought fairies came in and cleanedafter her parties and so on.

“My mum loved me in her own way. My Grandpawas so used to being alone.”

“No. Jade, don’t you see that even now you’refinding the good in them where there was none to begin with. You’regiving them a second chance. Neither deserved all the chances yougave them. You taught me I take the love of my family forgranted—my commitments to friend also. You do it in slight waysthough so we almost don’t notice. Like, going to rugby practiceknowing I would follow you. You didn’t once get cranky when I’dbeen with my friends, you’ve even said I should go out with them.You let my mum take over and treat you like her own personal doll.I know she bought you things you’d never worn before and wouldn’thave if she hadn’t gotten it for you. Then there is me. You haveaccommodated me with everything. Like now. We are on the way to auniversity I want to go to. You’d follow me anywhere. I know youdidn’t like Newcastle, but you knew I wouldn’t either. You could goanywhere you wanted, but you’re here right now with me.”

Stephan leaned in and kissed me. I let him. Iwas in a daze. How did he know all these things? I hadn’t evenfigured out most of them. I opened my mouth and tangled my tonguewith his. Closing my eyes I let my passion for Stephan overtakeeverything. My brain felt like it was going a million miles anhour, it had just been blown up.

Stephan eased from me and I stared in frontof me into space thinking over everything he’d told me. I stilldidn’t feel like I’d given him any reason to love me, I had nomoney and no family. All I could give him was my heart and showinghim how much I loved him.

The flight attendant came and gave us foodand offered us drinks. I took the wines. I needed them. I got abook out and pretended to read. Every now and then I would look atStephan, but mostly I stared blankly at the book and thoughteverything through.

I was surprised when the pilot came over theintercom to tell us we were landing and the time on the Gold Coast.I had decided some things though. I was going to make sure Stephanknew I loved him. I was going to tell his family too.

*****

Stephan

The plane landed and I was getting worriedabout Jade, even Derick was staying quiet cos he could seesomething was up. Even as we got off the plane Jade seemed to be inher own world. Crap, maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. I wasshocked though, she’d finally said she loved me out loud. I cameback with a smart comment and then felt guilty. When she’d asked Itold her. I thought it might help to keep her mind off the flight,but it worked too well.

We waited at the carousel with a trolley forour luggage. Jade’s pink luggage came around first and as I wentfor it she grabbed it, struggling with the heavy cases my motherhad helped her pack. Taking them from her I shook my head andplaced them on the trolley. “Why did you get them? Derick and I areright here.”

“I can pick up suitcases. I wanted to help.”She nibbled on her bottom lip and I honed in on the nervousreaction.

Nodding to my brother I knew he’d get I wastelling him to watch for our luggage. I gathered Jade against me.“Thanks for your help, little bit. Derick and I can take it fromhere.” I leaned down brushing my lips over hers. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

My heart soared when she said the words backfor the first time. I couldn’t wait until we could get to the hoteland I could hold her.

Derick grabbed our suitcases.

“Thanks, bro.”

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