The soft press of her lips against his made jayden’s entire world narrow down to that single point of contact. His heart sintered, then started racing like he’d just sprinted a marathon
All the fear and panic that had been clawing at him just moments before simply…evaporated. Replaced by something so warm and right that he fet Lo he might melt into the sand beneath them.
“Nothing important,” he said softly, his voice still rough with emotion but infinitely calmer than it had been all day.
The beach crowd had thinned considerably as the evening wore on Taking advantage of their relative privacy, Jayden gently tied Ariana’s chin up with his fingertips.
“That was nice,” be m
e murmured, his eyes locked on hers. “That it was over way too fast.
He leaned down and kissed her again–slowly this time, deliberately, like he was trying to memorize the exact shape of her lips against his
This kiss. Jesus, he’d been dreaming about this kiss since he was teen years old and too scared to do anything but hold her hand.
He felt her melt into him, her hands fisting in the front of his shirt like she was afraid he might pull away. When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard..
“Better?” she asked with a shy smile that made his chest feel too small for his heart.
“Much” he managed, his voice coming out like gravel
Back at their B&B that night, they lay curled together in the antique four–poster bed, windows open to let in the sound of waves and the salt–sweet ocean breeze,
Jayden held Arianna close, both of them gazing out at the moonlight reflecting off the water. His heart was hammering against his ribs, but this time t wasn’t from fear–it was from anticipation.
With hands that were definitely shaking, he slowly reached under his pillow
“What are you up to over there?” Arianna asked, noticing his movement.
Instead of answering directly, Jayden shifted so he was facing her fally, his expression soddenly serious in a way that made her breath catch
do you see yourself in two years? Ten years?”
“Arianna,” he said quietly, “where do
She studied his face, clearly sensing that this wasn’t just casual comeration. “With you” she said simply. “Wherever you are, that’s where I want to
be.”
“And if I said I wanted to stay in Vermont? Maybe buy a house, put down real roots?”
“Then Vermont it is.” Sh
She smiled, reaching up to trace the line of his jaw. “Why? What’s going on in that head of yours?“
Jayden’s threat fire it was closing up. With trembling fingers, he pulled out a small velvet box and opened it to reveal a classic solitaire diamond that caught the moonlight and threw tiny rainbows across the ceiling
“Because,” he said, his voice cracking with the weight of everything he was feeling. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to wake up next to you every morning and fall asleep with you every night. I want to fight about whose turn it is to take out the trash and whether we’re having Too many people over for dinner.”
Tears were streaming down his face now, but he couldn’t stop talking.
“I want to grow old with you. Arianna. I want everything we talked about when we were kids and thought we had all the time in the world.”
He took a shaky breath, “Will you ma
for a terrifying moment, Arianns just stared at him, her eyes wide with shock. Then her face crumpled, and she started crying so hard that Jayden briefly panicked, thinking she was about to say no
Instead, she threw herself at him with so much force they both nearly tumbled off the bed.
12:03
Almost in Love with You: Before That Cruel Summer Took Everything
Chapter 24
“Yes,” she sobbed into his nark “Yes, yes, obviously yes, you ridiculous maint
Jayden feb like he might actually pass out from relief. He held her so tight he was probably bruising her ribs, but the data’t seem to mind.
Seventeen years of loving her from a distance.
Ten years of thinking he’d lou her forever.
And now, finally, they were going to get their happy ending.
Three days later, reality called them back to Vermont. Jayden had a fill patient load waiting for him, and they’d already extended their trip alice.
Their first stop was the pet hotel to collect Orange, who immediately claimed every bit of Arianna’s attention the moment they walked through the door.
“Well, I can see where I stand,” Jayden said with mock offense as Ariana completely ignored him in favor of cooing over their kitten. “Three days away a
y and I’m already chopped liver.”
“What? No, of course not.” Arianna sad distractedly, not even looking up from where she was letting Orange climb all over her. “You know you’re my favorite
But she made absolutely no move to actually acknowledge him, too busy reuniting with their “baby“”
Jayden shook his head with fond exesperation. The constant anxiety that had been his unwelcome comparion for weeks had finally started to quiet. Seeing Arianna like this–completely herself, radiantly happy, wearing his ring–was better than any therapy session.
His phone buzzed with a text from Uncle Charles.
Charles How are you doing, kiddo? Things good with that girlfriend of yours? Bring her by the office when you get a chance–d love to meet her properly
Jayden looked up at Arianna, who was now lying on the floor letting Drange use her as a jungle gym while she giggled at his tiny antics. The engagement ring sparkled on her finger, catching the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows.
He couldn’t suppress the ridiculous grin that spread across his face as he typed back
Free this afternoon. And she’s not my girlfriend anymore–she’s my fiancée.
