Page 137 of Stay for Me
I wish it were that simple. That it was just being irrational, but there was more to it. I knew that my having to leave her and Sebastian after having made promises would be close to what she went through with Luke. I just had no idea that it would end the way it did.
“Brenna, stop. We were both idiots, and . . . I just want to hold you, kiss you, and love you.”
Her lips turn up as she releases a soft sigh. “I want that too.”
We stand here, kissing, touching, and just staring at each other. I have never felt more grateful than I do right now. “You have no idea how much I thought about you.”
“I’m pretty sure I can imagine.”
“You’re okay?” I ask.
She nods. “I’m okay now that you’re here and okay.”
“What about you? Are you okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, beautiful. I’m fine now.”
“Good. Now let’s go home.”
She takes my hand, and we walk to the car. When I move to slide in, my side explodes in pain, but I keep it together. After a few minutes, I can breathe normally again and link my fingers through hers. She’s sunlight and rainbows after the storms. Being around her, being back together, is everything I hoped for.
“Jacob, what happened? I don’t know if you want to talk about it, but . . .”
I don’t really, but at the same time, I do. I relay the entire sequence of the crash and the aftermath. I talk about Jessica, the way she passed out, and the fear of her not making it. Brenna listens, holding my hand and wiping tears away silently. I let the details go, giving her the story that no one else will ever hear. To the press, it won’t be quite like that. We’ll make it sound much less dramatic, which means they’ll make it far more dramatic, and it won’t be like the truth being told in this car.
“Is she okay now?” Brenna asks.
“The doctors seem to think she’ll be okay, but I don’t really have much information. She saved my life, and even after she slammed her head, she was worried about me.”
Brenna’s thumb rubs the top of my hand. “I’m grateful to her. And I’m sure that, to her, you and the other pilots saved her life.”
That’s probably true. The group of us, we saved each other. No one got left behind and we kept ourselves together.
“It’s over now. I’m here and I want to just be here with you.” She smiles softly, and I wipe away the tear she missed. “So, you didn’t have opening night?” I ask, needing to change the subject.
“No, you sort of were in a plane crash and the town couldn’t go on.”
“I really let them down.”
“You didn’t let anyone down. Not a single person feels that way, Jacob. We were all so worried. All anyone cared about was finding you alive and okay. The play, well, it wasn’t even a thought.”
I wish I believed that, but I imagine how sad the kids must’ve been when all their hard work was ruined.
“Did you cancel tomorrow’s show?”
Brenna rests her head back on the seat. “No. They had one yesterday once we knew you were alive. Another drama teacher from a neighboring town offered to help because I couldn’t do it.”
“You didn’t go?”
She shakes her head. “I didn’t sleep for almost two days. After they found you and the crew, I passed out, but it was only for about an hour. Then, when we spoke, I guess I just couldn’t stay awake. My in-laws took the kids after Ellie called them, which is how I was able to be here now.”
I push her hair back, so fucking grateful I can just touch her. “How did you get here anyway?”
“Catherine.”
She’s seriously part witch, I’m convinced.
“I was surprised, but I probably shouldn’t have been,” I say with a chuckle.
