Page 73 of The One She Can't Forget

But I could only wait so long. As soon as Bryce and Krystal were inside and Pastor Justin blessed the meal, I stood up, leaving my untouched plate at my place next to Bryce. I tapped Monica on the shoulder and pointed outside, as the tinkling sound of silverware on glass swelled inside the barn.

“Kiss!” the people cheered, all eyes on the newlyweds.

Except mine. My eyes were fully on Monica as she walked out the door in front of me.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

MONICA

Imade my way toward the door Jake had pointed to with him right behind me. When we got outside, the late-summer heat was just starting to dissipate. Taking photos at the church and in the park had been sweltering, and I felt bad for the guys in their tuxes.

My palms were sweating now, but it wasn’t from the heat. This conversation with Jake had been waiting all day, and finally we would be able to talk without interruption. Which was a bit terrifying, because I still wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to say.

He’d said he was sorry for the flower guy stunt, but the truth was that I was the one who owed him an apology.

I turned back as he shut the door behind himself. This was one of the small side exits of Storybook Barn, and other than a string of rustic light bulbs across the face of the barn, there wasn’t much out here.

“I know you–”

“I’ve been thinking–”

I stopped and so did Jake, a smile teasing his lips. “You go first,” he said gently.

I stepped closer to him and swallowed thickly. “I know you said you were sorry, but I’m the one who was wrong.”

Confusion flickered across his face.

“You were great with Hannah,” I said simply. Then I added with a smile, “Being the flower guy really suited you. It was perfect.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were upset about it,” he said.

It was my turn to look confused. “What? Why?”

“I don’t know. I just figured it was further proof that I can’t take things seriously.”

I reached for his hands and pulled them toward me. “I’m sorry, Jake. I never should have said those things. I let myself get caught up in the fear of repeating my own past mistakes. None of them were your fault.”

“But I do make jokes at bad times and don’t take things seriously,” he said. “You can’t deny that.”

“No, I can’t deny that,” I said, letting laughter lace my words. “But I finally realized something.” His calloused hands were rough under my fingers as I rubbed them. “I love that you make me laugh and that I’m the one you let see the serious side of you. I wouldn’t want you to change at all. I never should have made you feel guilty about my accident or my job. None of them were your fault. You’re the most steadfast, reliable person in my life.”

“Other than Bryce?” he asked, a hint of cynicism in his words.

I shook my head. “It wasn’t Bryce who dropped everything to take me to appointments or sit with me in the waiting room. It wasn’t Bryce who took me to get groceries or never stopped praying for my memory to return. It wasn’t Bryce who remembered how much I hate eating alone and brought me Thai food and watched K-dramas.”

He was smiling now, and I loved the fact that I’d made him happy.

“I feel like… I don’t deserve you, Jake.” I could see the objections forming on his lips, so I kept going. “It’s the truth. I’m lowkey afraid that loving you will turn me into a flighty, lovesick woman who can’t function without you. Or that I’m going to choke the humor and fun right out of you.”

“Now, hold on,” he said.

I pulled one hand from his and held a finger to his lips. “Sshh. What I’m trying to say is that I think it’s worth the risk. You make me so unbelievably happy, Jake. I promise I’ll do my best to never stifle your carefree spirit or contagious sense of humor. If you’ll just give me another chance to be the one you love again.”

I paused, thinking about if there was anything else I wanted to say.

“Can I talk now?” His words were muffled by my fingers on his lips. Jake raised his eyebrows and looked down toward my hand.

“Oh,” I said sheepishly. “Yeah, go ahead.”

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