Page 95 of Don't Game Me
“I have to be serious for a moment, Becca. You scared the hell out of me, disappearing without a word. Then you got shot…so much blood. I didn’t expect how much I felt during all that and how much I’d almost lost. I’m not everything you need. I’m not what you should have—”
Her soft fingers touched his arm. “That’s not true.”
“Let me finish. I also know I want to love you as well as I can. I only hope it’s enough.”
She grabbed his hand. “You’re amazing. Never say you’re not good enough, because you’re the best man I know.” She scrunched up her face and rocked her head back-and-forth. “Except for the one-night-stand addiction.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know how to do this one and only stuff. I want to try though.”
“I’m obviously not an expert on this, either, but we can figure it out. First comes trust though. I’m sorry I messed it up even if I thought I was doing the right thing. I should’ve trusted you. That said, trust is a two-way street. You have to trust I’ll let you know if I ever want out. I’m a one-man-only girl. Right now, I want you to be that man. I also need to be able to trust you’re not going to be trying to get it on with one of the beautiful women who constantly throw themselves at you. Are you willing to give us a real chance?”
“Everything I want is right here. It’s you, Becca. Only you. I haven’t touched another woman since Christmas. I’ll do my best, but I might fuck up from time to time and say the wrong thing.”
“You can do this. That’s something I know deep in my heart.” She touched his cheeks with one hand. “I’m in love with you, Jake. I think I’ve been in love with you for a long time. Maybe even since when I first met you.”
“Well, that’s good, because I’m seriously messed up over you. I’m pretty sure this is love because it’s beating me up from the inside out.” He pulled her close to kiss her, pouring every complicated thing he felt for her into the kiss. “I’m all in on this, if you’ll have me. The odds might not be good, but I’m willing to bet everything on us.”
“Me too.”
Her cell phone dinged with an incoming text. She turned it over to see.
Unknown:Erasing yourself from the system doesn’t mean you’re out.
“What’s wrong?” Jake asked.
Her hand shook as she rotated her phone to show him the message. “What should I do? Do I reply?”
He took the phone from her and put it face down on the table. “They don’t dictate your life anymore. We’ll turn the phone over to the FBI tomorrow. They can figure out who sent it.”
“What if they release the video?”
“Let them. We’ll deal with it. The FBI will help us.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “You’re not alone anymore. You’re also not a professional operative authorized to hunt Symphis on your own.”
“You’re right. Oh, I got you something. I thought about waiting until your birthday next week, but I’m not good at waiting.” She pulled a small wrapped package from her purse.
“You didn’t need to get me anything. You being here is more than enough.”
“Well…open it.” She practically vibrated with her excitement.
“Okay.” He carefully took off the ribbon and started slowly undoing each piece of tape.
“Oh my God, you’re killing me. Come on. Hurry up.”
He ripped the paper and tore open the box. And gawked. “An original Princess Leia from episode five?”
She nodded.
“I never thought about her for my collection. Where’d you find her?”
“There was a guy at the convention. He didn’t want to part with her, but I twisted his arm. You’ve got Han and Chewie, but…” Her eyes glassed over. “Every Han needs a kick-ass Leia.”
He rotated the in-the-box doll. Softly, he asked, “Becca, will you be my Leia?”
She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. “I already am.”
