Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
I figure I might be hallucinating. Or just plain asleep and dreaming. What is he talking about?
“You ran out on me because you were scared I was going to run out on you. Just like your father did, over and over. I didn’t get it at first. I didn’t understand that I lost you when I told you about your dad not showing up for our meeting. Eventually, it made perfect sense. I thought you didn’t want me. But that’s not it. You don’t want him.”
My heart stutters in my chest. I have to pull in a slow breath to settle my pulse.
“I know you love me just as much as I love you,” he says.
And from somewhere, I find the strength to put my hand on his chest to stop him galloping further ahead when I’m still so far behind.
“You love me?” I ask him, staring into his eyes.
“So much.” He smooths his hands over my shoulders. “And you love me too.” I smile at him, and he grins back, sure enough for both of us. “You don’t have to say it. I know it. I feel it. We both feel it. You just don’t trust it. And I don’t think I did either for a minute back there. It took me a beat to catch up. Now that I have, now that I’m sure, there’s no going back. So I booked our wedding. Maybe we want to do it earlier and cancel. Maybe we want to do it later and just use the date for a big party. Either way, I didn’t want to miss out on being the first ones to benefit from the incredible job you’re going to do here.”
“Have you actually lost your mind?” It’s the only thing I can think of to say.
He chuckles. “No. The exact opposite. Take all the time you need to catch up. I’m here forever, so there’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I thought you were getting married to someone else.”
“There’ll never be anyone else for me. From our very first meeting, something in me shifted.”
“What? When I was blue and rocking a skull belt?”
“Yeah. I’d never felt such a connection before. I was pretty torn up about you not calling. I’m not letting you go again.”
“Just like that, this is how it is?” I ask.
“Yup. I’m here to stay. I’m not walking away from you. Not ever.”
There’s a lump of grief packed in my throat. “You can’t say that.”
“I can say that.”
“But we’re going to fight.”
He laughs. “I know. But I’m not going to run. We’re going to work through whatever comes up. You’re the person I want to spend my life with. You’re the person I want to cook mac and cheese with. You’re the person I want to raise a family and grow old with. It’s all you, Jules.”
I reach for the railing to steady me. Everything he’s saying is exactly what I needed to hear, and I didn’t even know it.
“I do love you,” I mumble. “And I’m so sorry I ran out on you. I shouldn’t have done that. I was… scared. Scared that you weren’t who I thought you were.”
He slides an arm around my waist. “I know. And I know you’re going to get scared again and you might try and ditch me, but I won’t let you go. I’m here. I’m who you can rely on for the rest of your life.”
I exhale. Is it really that easy? He just turns up and promises me everything I’ve ever wanted in a relationship?
But no—none of this has been simple. What Leo’s done has taken a lot of effort, and bravery, and… love.
“I love you,” I say, my tone stronger now. “And… I think I’m going to need to take things in bite-sized pieces, but… I want to be with you too. Forever.”
“You do?”
“I absolutely do.”
EPILOGUE
A week later
Jules
I stare at the tray of rings in front of me and then glance across at Leo, who’s also staring at them. Then I look down at the ring I’m already wearing.
“I do like this ring,” I say, holding out my hand.
“I know you do,” Leo says.
“Then why can’t I keep it?”
Leo really wants to buy me a new engagement ring. I keep telling him, there’s no need. The ring I already have is gorgeous. And huge.
“You absolutely can,” he replies. “But wouldn’t it be nice to have a new one as well? I didn’t spend long picking that out and it…” He winces and suddenly I get it. The ring I’m wearing is all about Caroline.
“You want this ring to be about you and me and not your past?”
He turns and smiles. I brush the corner of his mouth with my thumb. “You always know what I’m thinking.”
“I like this one,” I say, pointing to the smallest solitaire on the tray.