Page 15 of Keeping Happily Ever After

Bella was his missing piece.

Reluctantly, Jeremy shifted on the couch so he was sitting up and Bella was next to him. He reached down and grabbed the blanket that had slipped to the floor and pulled it up over them.

As if she’d read his mind, Bella sighed as she snuggled into him again. “I could get used to this.”

“I absolutely agree. This feels like paradise.” It wasn’t an exaggeration. Having her bare skin pressed up against his was like the best kind of paradise. His own perfect version. And one he would quite happily stay in as long as he possibly could.

He chuckled under his breath, completely aware that he was over-romanticizing the moment.

“What’s so funny?” Bella tipped her head up to look at him.

Jeremy brushed a strand of hair off her forehead and gazed into her eyes. “If I tell you, you’ll laugh, too. Only you’ll be laughingatme.”

“Tell me. I won’t laugh at you. I promise.”

“That is definitely not a promise you’re going to be able to keep.” Jeremy shook his head. Without a doubt she was going to laugh at him, but he didn’t care. Not really. “But I’ll tell you anyway.”

Bella shifted so she sat up a little bit more, and Jeremy instantly missed the feel of her hot skin on his. He had to resist the urge to pull her back into him.

“Okay, you’re going to think I’m ridiculous, but I was just thinking how perfect this all is. You. Me. Here like this. Like it was always meant to be. Like we were always meant to reconnect after all these years and be together. It’s like…fate.”

To Jeremy’s surprise, she didn’t laugh at him. In fact, she didn’t even smile. Instead, with complete seriousness, she looked at him intently. “And why do you think that was so funny?” There was a question in her eyes. “Because, it seems to me, that that’s actually a pretty nice thought.”

“You think so, do you?”

“Sure.” She nodded. “I love being here with you, too. Why did you think I’d laugh at you?”

“It’s hard to explain.” He shrugged, no longer quite so self-conscious. “It’s just when I’m with you, you make me feel like I’ve never felt before. Hell, I’ve always been the tough guy, Bella. The firefighter. The rugged mountain man. But with you…I’m all romantic and poetic or something, and I don’t know how to be that guy.” He laughed again and waited for her to join in. When she didn’t, he asked, “You don’t think it’s ridiculous?”

Bella shook her head. “I think it’s sweet.Reallysweet.” She traced her finger along his arm. “And maybe you don’t think you know how to be that guy, but youarethat guy and I, for one, really like him.”

“You do, do you?”

She nodded slowly. “And…I feel the same. Thisisamazing. Being with you always is. Sometimes I wish I could transport you, so that you’re in the city with me all the time or on set… I’m going to miss you.”

Miss you.

She finally laughed, but it was Jeremy’s turn to get serious. The smile fell off his lips as he processed exactly what she’d just said. She was going tomisshim?

“Jer?”

He turned away, aware that he needed to say something, but having no idea at all what it was he could say that could properly express how he was feeling. Especially because he had no idea how hewasfeeling.

She was leaving. Right.He knew that logically. Of course he did. When she told him she’d gotten the role, Jeremy had known that it meant she had to leave Glacier Falls and go back to the city, or LA or wherever it was that they shot movies like that. Of course. But as much as heknewit, he hadn’tthoughtabout it. And he definitely hadn’t thought about what it might mean to them.

Her hand reached out and touched his shoulder. It was a tentative touch, as if she were unsure, and he hated that he was making her feel in any way unsure about him or his feelings for her. Hehatedit. But despite that, he couldn’t bring himself to say the things she needed to hear. Mostly because he had no idea what that was.

His mind spun. His heart was in his throat and for a few minutes, it was hard to breathe.

“Jeremy?” She shook him a little. “You’re worrying me.” She gently and firmly turned him so he was looking at her again. “Say something. Anything.”

He knew that right then, whatever it was he said, it could make or break the moment.

It took a ridiculous amount of effort, but Jeremy dug deep, took a breath in, and exhaled slowly, with a smile he hoped reached his eyes. “Sorry,” he said slowly. “I’m not trying to worry you. You just took me off guard is all.” He took another breath and on that exhale, shook off the worry that had started to settle over him. “I’m going to miss you, too.”

He hoped like hell it was the right thing to say because it was without a doubt the biggest understatement that had ever crossed his lips.

It took a moment, but a sparkle slowly returned to her eyes and a smile to her lips. “You are?”

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