Page 45 of Actually Yours

“Oh honey,” Bella’s face is filled with pain as she looks at me over her friend’s shoulder. “That’s not true.”

A trail of tears makes their way down Amelia’s cheeks and I flounder, my own eyes watering as I watch her.When was the last time I cried?I ponder this, feeling helpless in the face of her hurt.

“I’m tired.”

Her voice is so sad, I act without thinking. Moving Bella out of the way, I pull Amelia to me. “Amelia, you listen to me.” I whisper the words directly into her ear, needing her to hear me. “You do not need a man to tell you how amazing you are, but I’m here now and I want you to know it. I want you to feel it from me. You are incredible. You are wonderful. You are enough.”

She gapes up at me and I know I’ve probably said too much. But stuff it, I’m not guarding my heart at the expense of hers. If saying these words to Amelia right now, in this moment, exposes me and my own hidden feelings, then I can live with that. As long as it takes away some of her pain.

“Thank you, Jake,” she breathes into my ear and I pull her closer to me. Holding her to my chest, breathing her in, wishing I could have more than just this moment with her.

“I mean it.”

She squeezes me tight in response and rests her head on my shoulder.

“Maybe we should get her home?”

Bella’s voice startles me. I’d forgotten she was there. I’d forgotten anyone else existed.

“Yes,” I agree. “Can I take you both home?”

She nods. “I think she’d like that.”

Amelia’s head remains on my shoulder and I gently lift it up, using a finger to raise her lovely face to mine. “I’m going to say goodbye to my friends and then I’ll take you home. Is that alright?”

“Yes,” she hiccups. “I’d like that.”

I hand her over to where Bella is hovering, looking worried. This night had definitely taken a turn for the worse, exposing a lot of unspoken pain that’s been bubbling in her friend.

“I’ll be right back.” I jog to where my friends are finishing another round of beer, matching bemused looks on their faces.

“What’s up?” Steven asks, tilting his head to the bar where I’d just come from.

“I’m taking them home.” I don’t go into any details. “They’ve had enough of being here. And so have I.”

They grin at me. “Aren’t you happy we dragged you here tonight?”

I look back to where Amelia is leaning against her friend, the two of them with their heads pressed together, a united front of sadness.

“I’m forever grateful.” I thump them both on the back to say goodbye. I’m so glad I was here to be with Amelia tonight. It feels like she really needs me.

“Call me!” Steven yells after me with a cheeky smile. It’s like having a thirteen-year-old girlfriend with him sometimes.

I wave him off and lengthen my stride to get back to Amelia. She needs to be home, somewhere warm and safe. Somewhere she can lick her wounds, so that she can come back stronger, so that she can understand just how incredible she truly is.

“Ready to go?”

Amelia looks at me, her brown eyes sad but also filled with trust, holding me captive, like they always have.

“Take me home, Jake.”

The words I’ve always wanted to hear. Only not in quite these circumstances.

*****

“Do you want to stay at my place tonight?” Bella asks her friend once we’re buckled in my car, ready to get on our way. “We can have a sleepover.”

Amelia shakes her head where it’s resting against the window of the passenger seat. “I just want to go home. I want to be alone. Is that OK?”

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