Page 60 of From Us, Forever

“Yeah, she is beautiful,” Jay replied to the comments, sliding a grin my way. “I keep telling her that all the time, but she won’t believe me.”

“Jay,” I muttered under my breath while my face turned beet red, so red that I could feel the heat scorching my skin.

He chuckled, pressing a kiss on my nose. “But you are beautiful, sweetheart.”

I couldn’t help the smile that lit up my face while I got lost in those blues. For a moment, I’d forgotten that we were on live.

“Whoa, one question at a time, guys.”

My wide eyes roamed over the comment section firing off in a frenzy.

“Alright, let’s see. How did we meet?... Evelyn and I went to the same school, and we’re from the same town; she was my first love and only love. We separated for a few years but reconnected a year ago and have been going strong ever since. I just…” His eyes flashed to mine for a second. “I just love her so fucking much,” he whispered before turning his attention back to the camera, and my heart melted.

He sighed. “Amid all the crazy things they’ve been saying about us, aboutherover the media. It’s all completely unwarranted, and she doesn’t deserve it,at all. I don’t owe an answer to anyone, but I do want to set things straight.” His eyes glided over to me once again. “Only I know how much this woman loves me.” He switched his eyes back to the phone. “She’s the light of my day and the stars of my nights; she’s my brown-eyed girl and the only woman with a place in my heart. So I ask you to please give us privacy and support and stop spreading misinformation.”

A certain calm swept over me at his words, and my heart exploded with love. “I love you,” I whispered, not caring if the whole world saw us.

His smile only made my heart shatter further.

Suddenly, something furry and soft jumped on us. Jay laughed, trying to hold Strawberry down while I wrestled with her little collar that had a little charm that said “Mommy’s girl.”

“Calm down, girl,” Jay ordered, but he was full-on laughing when she pressed her snout to the camera lens, barking loudly.

“Strawberry.” I finally got hold of her collar and pulled her onto my lap. “That’s enough,” I chided firmly, to which shewhined, nuzzling her head on my lap. Her curious eyes were drawn to the screen, now showing the three of us.

“Who is she?” Jay read the comment. “Evelyn, why don’t you answer it?”

I cleared my throat. “Ah, yes. This is Strawberry,” I said shyly, petting her. “She’s a naughty little golden retriever, as you all can see, who is spoiled rotten by both her mom and dad, aren’t you?” I cooed, which made her whoof out a cute bark.

“They love her already.” Jay pointed at the phone, and my eyes trailed over some of the comments. It wasn’t just her they loved. They lovedmetoo. The comments were pouring with words about how adorable we were, how much in love Jay was, how men should find a girl looking at them exactly how I was looking at Jay, and how we would make a happy Christmas card.

I got a lot more comfortable as the minutes passed, and Jay answered a few more questions.

“Alright, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us. I gotta go now that my girl is eyeing me like that,” he teased.

Blushing, I elbowed him in the ribs. “Bye, everyone. Thank you.”

And with that, the screen closed, and I let out a heavy exhale that I’d been holding.

“You were amazing.”

“It wasn’t as bad as I thought,” I pondered, my hand still petting Strawberry, who was on the brink of a deep slumber. “Do you think it will all be different now?”

“I hope so. Even if it isn’t, it wouldn’t change a thing. This is our new normal now.”

“Hmm.” I leaned my head against his shoulder. “It’s freeing somehow knowing the world officially knows that we’re together and that I’m proud to be your girlfriend.”

“You are?” He raised a brow.

The corners of my eyes creased. “Why would you question that? Of course, I am.”

He tipped his head to the side. “I knew why you wanted to keep it a secret, but even back then, you wouldn’t let me introduce you as my girlfriend.” He sighed. “Sometimes I thought you didn’t want to be seen with me because you didn’t want anyone to know thatwewere together.”

“That’s not true.” I laced my fingers with his. “You know how insecure I was back then? Hell, who am I kidding? I still am to some level. All I ever wanted to do was walk by your side as your girl, but I wasn’t brave enough… I'm not saying I’m any braver now, but I’m comfortable not caring.”

He pressed a soft kiss to my lips before wrapping me in his arms with Strawberry snoring softly in my lap.

“How long do you want to stay here in Bellevue?”

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