Page 77 of Two Friends in Marriage
If she takes those words to mean a platonic love of close friends, that’s fine.I just know it’s important for her to hear it.Her dad hasn’t been there for her, but I will be.
She raises her head.“Until yesterday, nobody had said that to me other than my mom.”
“Yesterday?”
“When I was talking to Claudia.”
“What about your exes?”
She shakes her head.“I said it, but they didn’t say it back.”
“Oh, Jane.”I know how hard it would be for her to take that risk, this woman who felt unwanted in her own family.
At the same time, I’m keenly aware that she hasn’t returned my words.
But that’s okay.I can manage.
She traces my eyebrows with her finger.My jaw.Then her finger moves down to my collarbone.I can barely breathe, but I don’t tell her to stop.I crave her touch.Two and a half days?That was far too long to be without it.
“But before I say it to you,” she whispers, “I need to know how you meant it.”
I feel lightheaded.“I…”
I can tell her the truth.But she’s experienced a lot of emotional upheaval today, and I don’t want to make it worse, and what if…
At my hesitation, the light dims in her eyes.
And I know.I just know.
I know this is different from anything I’ve felt before, and I know she feels it, too, though there’s a part of me that can’t quite believe it.
“I meant it in every way,” I say.“I love you, I’m in love with you, I can’t imagine I’ll ever stop loving you.I didn’t marry you for romantic reasons, but now, I feel like I did, even though I’d sworn it off.I was afraid to tell you because it wasn’t part of our deal…but I do.”
Feeling overwhelmed, I shut my eyes, but then I feel her hand on my cheek.Her thumb gently strokes my skin.
“I love you,” she says, “in exactly the same way.”
Then she kisses me, this wonderful person who’s building a life with me.Who looks amazing whether she’s cutting the grass or doing my makeup.
Wholovesme.
Joyous laughter escapes my lips as I open my eyes.When my gaze lands on something across the room, I laugh again.At some point while I was gone, Watson changed his outfit.He was wearing a cape when I left, but now, he’s got a little crown fashioned out of yellow paper.
Jane smiles.“I love all the little things you do for me.All the ways you make me feel cared for.I really missed you when you were gone, even if your trip was short.I woke up alone and drank coffee alone—and I wished you were there with me.”
“You’re not going to get sick of me?”
“I can’t imagine I would.I might have only felt this way for a few weeks, but I’ve known you for a long, long time—and I’m sure.”
Before, I wondered if I’d be able to fall in love with lots of different people, if we were in close proximity like this.Max didn’t think that was true, and now, I’m positive he was right.
Sometimes, you just know.
I pull her close.“I love you so much.”I want to say it again and again.
And I will.
Chapter 27
