Page 114 of Fluke
“This is the woman I love—right here. And I want you just the way you are.”
“But what about kids? I won’t change my mind, Jess. How can you give that up for me?”
Please be honest. Please don’t tell me things you think will keep me with you. That would kill me, Jess.
He sighs. “Because kids were a part of the picture—they were neverthe picture. I come from a large family, Pip. I don’t need to replicate that. I really don’t.” He gently kisses my forehead, my eyes, my cheeks. “I need you to hear me and believe me on this, because it’s the absolute truth. For the last half of my life, it’s only ever been my dream to have you in my life. For you to be mine. The picture was me and you.” He grins shyly. “It’s always only been me and you for me.”
I bury my head in his chest.
“Do you even know how many kids my brothers are going to have? And Paige?Fuck. Our nieces and nephews will run to our house to escape my siblings.”
I smile against him. “I could be okay with that.”
He groans. “Oh, wait.”
“What?”
“There is one more condition.”
My heart beats harder.What now?
“You’re going to have to be okay with raising Banks because I can’t get out of it. I’ve tried,” he says.
I laugh, my whole body shaking. The light is back in Jess’s face.
Rain begins to fall around us, coming in at an angle and drenching us from head to toe. But we don’t move. We don’t even flinch. We just stare at each other and smile.
“What about your family?” I ask.
“They love you. My dad thinks you’re his long-lost daughter.”
I laugh.
We begin to sway back and forth, my arms draped over his shoulders, as thunder fills the sky.
“I love you, Jess.”
He lowers his face and kisses me softly. “I’ve waited for you to say that forever.”
“I’ve waited to say it forever.”
“I was starting to think maybe you never would.” He grins. “I want to take care of you, Pip. We’ve given up so many years apart that I don’t want to give up anymore.”
I take a deep breath. I’m not sure where he’s going with this. I’m not sure where I want him to be going with this either. But for the first time in my life, I feel like whatever he says will mean the two of us together.
This must be what it means to be loved. If so, I’ve never had this before.
It’s a feeling of safety—not just physically, but emotionally.
It’s being respected enough to be honest.
It’s being valued enough to be transparent.
It’s not just being seen, but also being heard, and knowing that no matter what you do or say—the other person will still be there. Even if you screw up.
Maybe even because you’ll screw up. At least you know you won’t have to do it alone.
This is a feeling I’ll never forget.
