Page 70 of Eight Years Gone

“I’m not going anywhere.” He’d tell her until she believed him.

“It’s more than that. All those years ago, we dove in. From the first second, everything was so intense. We were so wrapped up. You were everything. I gave you everything about me. We were so steady and strong. It never occurred to me to doubt anything about us.”

“I don’t want you to doubt us now.”

“You make it sound so simple—just picking up where we left off. But it’s not. So much time has passed. We’re different people.”

“We’re not that different. Under the years and experiences, plenty has stayed the same.”

She shook her head. “Jagger—”

He cupped her cheeks, bringing his face closer, needing her to see in his eyes that he was all in. “You’re all I’ve thought about for eight years. You’re all I’ve wanted since the beginning. We’re going to figure things out.”

She nodded.

He fought the need to clench his jaw when he knew she still doubted. “I messed things up. Badly. I’d change it all if I could. Since I can’t, all we can do is start now.”

She sighed as she rested her head against his chest.

“We have so much going for us, Grace. Our chemistry’s off the charts, and we have an amazing history. But none of it means anything if you don’t trust me.”

She frowned as she looked at him. “I do trust you.”

He raised his brow.

“Okay, I want to trust you,” she admitted.

He smiled. “I just need you, Grace. I always have.”

“I need you too.”

“That’s the part that matters. Let’s take what we had and build on the good stuff. Let’s start over with the rest.”

“That sounds good.” She kissed him. “I want this, Jagger. So badly.”

“What if we date—like any regular couple who just met? We’ll take things slow—take our time.”

It was her turn to raise her brow. “We’ve slept together. Twice.”

He grinned. “And I want to keep on doing that. Whenever you’re up for it, I’m definitely game.”

She grinned back.

“Give me a chance to show you how good we can be together again.”

She pressed her lips together as she nodded. “Okay.”

“How about I take you out this next weekend?”

“How about you take me out tomorrow night?”

He grinned as she did. “I finish up at the dojang at seven. After a shower and a change, I can be at your place by seven twenty.”

“I’ll be ready to go when you get there.” She kissed him. “I was thinking about heading out to take some pictures before I catch up on some paperwork at the shop.”

“Are you up for some company?”

She nodded.

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