Page 98 of Home in Nevada

“Real mature,” he says, rolling his eyes.

I laugh and push him aside. “I’ll take that one. Can you grab my surfboard? It’s still in the back of the car.”

"You're kidding…" He gives me a look. “Where the hell isthatsupposed to go?”

“I dunno,” I shrug, already turning back toward the stairs.

Behind me, he sighs like I’ve just told him to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. I glance back and catch the slight furrow in his brow, the way his lips press together. He’s worried. I can tell. Jamie’s eyebrows always give him away.

“Dude,just bail,”I tease, laughing as I start up the steps with the box.

“Excuse me? What the hell did you just say?” Jamie’s voice follows me, sharp but way too amused.

I keep walking, not bothering to turn around. “I said just bail.”

I’m halfway to the living room when I hear the door slam behind me, and I know I’ve poked the bear. Before I even have time to set the box down, Jamie barrels into me like a linebacker, nearly knocking me off my feet.

“Shit!” I yell as the box of electronics crashes to the floor. My stomach sinks. “Oh my god, did I just kill my computer?”

Jamie doesn’t even glance at the box. “Serves you right,” he says, already shoving me toward the bedroom like a man on a mission.

“Jamie, what are you doing?” I laugh, trying to twist out of his grip, but he’s always been stronger than he looks—and he’s clearly not playing around.

“I can’t believe you just said that to me,” he says, laughing like a maniac as he wrestles me onto the bed. “And not just once—twice, Jeff.”

“Yeah, it doesn’t feel so good, does it?” I grin up at him, my heart doing its stupid thing where it races every time he looks me in the eye like this. All intense and focused, like I’m the only thing in the room that matters.

“No, it doesn’t.” He stops laughing for a second, his gaze steady and serious. “You were joking, right?”

I hesitate. Damn. I wasn’t expecting him to actually ask that. “I mean... I’m already annoying you with all my stuff being here,” I blurt out, my voice quieter than I’d like.

Jamie’s expression shifts immediately. His brow furrows, like he’s debating whether to be serious or mess with me, but then he smiles—a soft, genuine smile. “Yeah, it’s a little annoying,” he says honestly, and I can’t help but laugh. God, I love that he never has a filter around me. With Jamie, it’s always the truth, no matter how blunt or messy, and somehow, that makes me love him even more.

“But Jeff,” he continues, “I’ve never lived with anyone before. I’m just... figuring it out, okay?”

I grin, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, I’m really bad at laundry, dishes, and cooking. I hope you like pizza rolls.”

Jamie laughs, finally easing up on the death grip he’s got on my wrists. “Jeff, I know all that already.”

“So, if you think this is annoying, just wait. I’ll give you, like, three months before you’re totally over me.”

Jamie tilts his head, that mischievous grin creeping back onto his face. “Is that a bet?”

His words hit me like a sucker punch, dragging up every stupid mistake I’ve ever made, every time I’ve messed this up before—especially that disaster in LA with Tiffany. The thought of losing him again, even as a joke, twists my stomach into knots. My smile slowly disappears, replaced by the creeping fear of losing him again that I try so hard to keep buried.

“No,” I say firmly, shaking my head. “I’m not betting with you anymore. I’m not willing to lose.”

Jamie’s smile fades into something softer, gentler. He lets go of my wrists and sits back on the bed, giving me space I don’t want. I sit up too, leaning forward to wrap my arms around him, holding him tight like that’ll keep him from ever slipping away.

“Please don’t ever bail on me,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. I’m not even sure he hears me until his arms tighten around me, pulling me closer.

“I’m not going anywhere, Jeff,” he murmurs, his voice warm and steady. “What’s wrong?”

I swallow hard, trying to find the words. “I just... I don’t want you to wake up one day and think you made a mistake. Like what happened the first time you flew out to visit me.”

Jamie pulls back just enough to press his forehead to mine, his breath warm and steady against my skin. His voice is soft but carries that firm edge he gets when he means every word. “Stop,” he whispers. “We’ve both had our moments of being stupid and indecisive, Jeff… but I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.”

The tears hit before I can stop them, but Jamie doesn’t even blink. He cups my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing my cheeks like it’s no big deal, like seeing me cry is just part of the package he’s signed up for. “I promise, Jeff,” he says, his voice so damn certain it makes me want to believe him. “Don’t worry about it. Everything’s going to be fine. Remember when you said that to me? Has it not been?”

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