Page 61 of Keeping Happily Ever After

“Jeremy.” She ran to him, but stopped short before throwing herself into his arms. She looked at him, her hands fluttering in front of her.

“I’m okay. I won’t break.”

It was all she needed to hear. Bella threw herself into his arms and onto his lap. He held her tight to him as his mouth found hers.

“I’m just so…when I heard…Jeremy…” She pressed her head into his shoulder and began to sob. It was all Jeremy could do not to cry along with her. The emotions of the last…well, too long…threatened to overflow. He held her, the feel of her giving him strength. He breathed deep, the scent of her filling him, giving him the energy he needed.

She was all he needed.

She was all he would ever need.

“Bella,” he murmured. “I was wrong,” he said. “I was so wrong.”

She lifted her head enough to look at him. Mascara streaked down her beautifully made-up face, but she’d never looked so gorgeous.

“I was wrong,” he said again. It was important. She needed to hear him.Reallyhear him. “Nothing matters more than you. Not Glacier Falls. Not the fire chief job. Nothing. All I could think of in that hospital was you and that I’d never hear your voice again and never see your face.” He reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Nothing matters but you. I was so wrong to ask you—”

“No.” She stopped him. “It was me. I…the thought of not having you…there’s just no point to any of this without you, Jer.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I need you. I don’t want any of this without you.”

“I don’t want anything without you.”

They stared at each other for a few minutes before she started to laugh. He joined in for a moment, but it hurt his ribs and his back.

“Well,” Jeremy said. “What are we going to do then, babe? Because I am never letting go of you again.”

The laughter died on her lips and she looked at him very seriously. “There’s only one thing to do.”

He nodded, because it had always been the only option in front of them.

She leaned close and whispered against his lips. “You and me, babe. We’re going to have it all.”

She meant exactly what she’d said. And she also knew it was possible.

Theycouldhave it all. And they would.

Because there was no other option. They’d tried it and hell, it had almost killed Jeremy.

Not that them being apart had anything to do with the accident, but Bella chose to believe in fate. And there was no point in tempting it. Not when it came to the two of them. They were meant to be together and that’s exactly where they were going to be.

Together.

As much as possible. Because shooting a movie wasn’t forever. It’s not as if she would have to move permanently. And if she did, well, they’d figure that out then.

In the meantime, she was sure they could make it work.

When there was love, there was always a way.

They kissed more, Bella melting into his arms. She would have happily stayed just like that, on his lap, for the rest of the night. Because as far as she was concerned, it was the perfect way to end a special day.

She was so consumed with Jeremy, Bella hadn’t noticed her parents and Papa, waiting to offer their congratulations as well. Not until Papa cleared his throat loudly.

She lifted her head and smiled when she saw him. “You made it.”

Bella gave Jeremy another look, almost to make sure he wouldn’t disappear if she left him for another moment and went to embrace her family.

“You were amazing, kiddo.” Her dad, visibly choked up, squeezed her hard and kissed her on the cheek.

Her mother embraced her and looked over her shoulder to Jeremy. “And the two of you…”

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