Page 136 of Fluke
“I don’t understand how long it’s going to take to make you believe that I’m here and I’m not going to leave—unless you tell me you don’t want me.” He reaches for my hand. “But I’m not going anywhere. Not without you.”
I give him both of my hands. He squeezes them and rubs the tops of them with his thumbs.
“It’s not over for me either,” I say.
“Good. Because I’d really hate to take you kicking and screaming to dinner. I can’t show up without you now. They may not even let me in.”
My laughter feels good.
The tension in my shoulders melts away. My eyes ache, and the exhaustion I’ve been fighting slowly creeps in.
“What does this mean?” I ask.
“What do you want it to mean?”
“Don’t answer a question with a question.”
“It means whatever you’re comfortable with as long as you know we’re together. As long as you don’t doubtus.” He sighs. “Eventually, you’ll associate love with happiness. I don’t know how long it’ll take me to get you there, but I will.”
My heart swells in my chest.
Eventually, you’ll associate love with happiness.
You’re already doing it, Jess.
I stand and walk around the table. He turns to the side like he knows what I’m going to do. I sit on his lap and study his handsome face.
He’s already been more consistent with his love than anyone I’ve ever known.
What’s the worst thing that could happen to you? You could die. But how does that happen? Because Jess loves you to death? Poor you.
I giggle.I’m quoting Banks now? What the hell is happening?
“What?” he asks, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Nothing. Just thinking of something Banks texted me today.”
His jaw drops. “Banks texted you?”
I nod. “I don’t know what to think of it, really, but we need to buy pop before we go to your mom’s.”
“Fucking Banks.” Jess laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. “Does this mean you’re going with me today? Or are we going to stay here and get inundated with calls and texts from my relentless family?”
I run my fingers through his hair.
My heart races. But the longer I think about it, the more certain I am.
“When do we need to leave?” I ask.
He pushes the side button on my phone and looks at the time. “Probably forty-five minutes at the latest. Why?”
“I need to do three things before we go.”
“What’s that?”
I smile at him. “I need to get dressed.”
“Okay.”
