Page 78 of Pieces of Me

“Have what?”

“That missing piece of the puzzle…”

* * *

“Jamie!” I slam my fist on the pool house door. I’d gotten back only minutes ago, and she wasn’t in the house, and now I’m hoping—praying—that she’s home because my ride to the airport is almost here, and I’m running out of time. “Jamie!”

The curtains shift, and she appears, her phone to her ear. Eyebrows drawn, she slides the door open. “I’ll call you back, Gina,” she says, eyeing the bags by my feet before hanging up. “What’s so urgent?” She steps back when I reveal the bouquet I’d been hiding behind my back.

“What is this?” she asks, taking them from me.

“I never bought you flowers,” I tell her, my words rushed, driven by adrenaline. “Which is dumb because I know how much you love flowers. And I never asked you out properly. I never took you on dates. I neverwooedyou, Jamie.”

She sniffs the mix of flowers, seeming unimpressed. Which isn’t a surprise, but they’re all the lame florist had left at 4 p.m. on a Sunday. I should’ve given them my card. “Wooedme?”

I nod, rocking on my heels. “Yep. I neverwooedyou. And I want to. I want towooyou off your fucking feet.” I point to the bouquet. “There’s a card, but don’t read it now. Wait until I’m gone. My car will be here any minute.” Then, just as the words leave my lips, a car pulls into the driveway. I step forward, gently press my hand to her jaw, urging her to look at me. When she does, I ask the question I should’ve asked all those years ago. “Will you please go out with me, Jameson Taylor?”

Her lips part, and I can already sense the hesitation.

“Look, I know that there are a million different reasons why this won’t work. But I’m here, fighting for the one reason why it will. So… I’m asking you,beggingyou—just one date,” I plead. “And if you decide you don’t want me after that, then… I’ll leave you alone. I swear.”

She shakes her head, not inanoresponse, but in disbelief at what I’m asking of her. “I’m going to see Gina tomorrow, and you’re leaving now…” Her eyes search mine. “How wouldonedateeven work?”

“I’ll take care of everything,” I rush out. “And you don’t need to give me an answer right now.” I pick up my bag. “Please, just think about it. That’s all I’m asking.” I place a kiss on her forehead, and before I can catch her reaction, I turn and I leave.

I get in the car and ride to the airport with only one thing on my mind. It’s the same thing that’s been there since I walked into Esme’s bedroom last night.

I saw Jamie in a wedding dress, and I…

…I want to see it again.

That’s all I’ve been able to think about.

Not the how or the why or the when.

I just…

I want to see Jamie in a wedding dress…

…and I want her to wear it for me.

33

Jamie

“I may have held on to the missing piece, but you’re the one who completes me.”

I’d waited all of two seconds after Holden left yesterday to open the little envelope that he’d hidden in the bouquet of flowers. Inside it was the missing piece of the puzzle, along with his handwritten note—a note that I’ve read over a hundred times since.

It’s astounding, really—the way the butterflies appear every time I breathe his words into my soul.

But it’s also downright terrifying.

Because IthoughtI knew what I wanted, and the future I’d settled on was one without him. Now he’s gone, leaving me at a fork in the road, completely confused and overwhelmed.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I carefully place his note back in the envelope with the puzzle piece and store it in the side pocket of my backpack.

“Jamie!” Gina calls out. “Did you forget to pack it?”

---