Page 79 of From Us, Forever

Ten minutes later, the boys were all cleaned up, and we headed out. I was so in my own giddy world hanging onto Jay’s arm that I didn’t even realize the crowd of paparazzi that waited outside the restaurant as our car pulled up to the curb.

“You’ll be fine,” Jay whispered in my ear as he helped me step out of the car. I couldn’t see much since he created a barrier with his arms from behind me while Mikey walked in front of me, holding Lily close.

It felt like it lasted all of thirty seconds before the calm, dark interior of the restaurant greeted us. I blinked, trying to getused to low lights, hushed whispers, and tasteful music playing in the air. Everything was spotless and cozy yet still expensive.

“This way, sir.” The hostess led us across the restaurant. All eyes were trained on us, and a few even had their cameras out as we walked.

A flush bloomed on my cheeks as I stuck to Jay’s side, clutching him like my lifeline.

I wasn’t used to this much attention from the public eye.

A semblance of calm seeped through me as the hostess settled us all into the private room.

It wasn’t long before the boys ordered everything on the menu and had the drinks flowing the entire night.

In the end, I was so full and so was my heart as I looked around the table, right here, right now—with my family.

My eyes swept over to Jay sitting next to me.

There was a glow in his eyes as he bickered something with Mikey.

He was so beautiful, not just on the outside but on the inside too.

I lost myself because of him, but I also found myself because ofhim.

Full circle.

His blues snapped to me as if he felt my eyes on him.

My heart thundered like a bird in a cage when he leaned in and took my chin between his thumb and forefinger.

“Are you happy?”

“Very.”

“Good,” he mumbled hoarsely. “I can’t wait to have you tonight. The past two days were agony.”

I giggled. “I don’t think that will be possible. The Red Goddess decided to show up tonight.”

He groaned, hiding his face in my neck.

“But I could think of other things,” I quipped, knotting my fingers through his hair.

His eyes sparked up. “What other things?”

“Secret,” I whispered, planting a kiss on his lips.

He smiled, returning to the conversation while his fingers laced around mine the entire night.

It’s been two days since the concert, and Jay and I have been inseparable.

Nothing new there.

And after he told me the whole story about White, I felt like crap for misunderstanding him. I was still jealous of that picture, but it happened a long time ago, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

“I think I’m ready,” I mumbled to the sleepyhead who was using my breasts as pillows.

“Babe, shush. I’m trying to sleep,” he grunted, nuzzling his cheek on my chest as he buried deeper.

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