Page 32 of Off-Limits

"Alright. Fuck. This is most likely a huge mistake, but I'm going to do what you want," he promises. "I'm on my way."

As soon as Jake hangs up the phone, I let out a shaky breath of relief. It's not over—not by a long shot—but at least we're talking again. Now, I just need to figure out how to convince him that leaving isn't the answer—that sticking together is our best chance at making things right with Ryan.

I pace back and forth across the kitchen floor, trying to come up with some sort of plan. Maybe if I can prove to Jake that we're strong enough to face whatever comes next—together—he'll realize that running away isn't the solution.

Plus, he's an adult. He knows that running away is never a good thing.

But before I can think too much about it, the sound of a car pulling up outside catches my attention. I rush towards the frontwindow, peering out just in time to see Jake's G-Wagon coming to a halt in front of the house. He jumps out almost immediately, striding up the driveway with purposeful steps.

He's more determined to see me again and possibly make another huge mistake than I thought.

As he approaches the door, I can't help but feel a sense of awe at how quickly he changed his mind—for me. It makes my heart swell with love and gratitude all at once, even though it doesn't change the frustration he makes me feel too.

When he walks through the door a moment later, our eyes meet and hold for what feels like an eternity. Then, slowly, Jake reaches out towards me, wrapping one arm around my waist and pulling me close against him. I can feel his heart pounding in his chest—matching the rhythm of mine.

"Mia," he whispers, kissing my cheek. "I'm sorry."

There's a lot he needs to be sorry for, I think.

"Me too," I whisper back, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his lips. He responds instantly, deepening the kiss and wrapping both arms around me now as if he never wants to let go.

As Jake pulls back slightly, resting his forehead against mine and looking into my eyes with a soft smile, I know that he feels it too.

"I love you," he whispers. "So much."

I close my eyes briefly, basking in the warmth of his words before opening them again to look up at him. "I love you too," I say softly. "Feels like I'm repeating myself, but I want to say it as many times as it's needed to make sure you understand."

He smiles wider now, pressing another kiss to my lips as if sealing our promise with a physical action.

"But," he says finally, pulling back slightly and looking down into my eyes with a serious expression. "We still have to figure out what we're going to do about Ryan."

I know he's right, but still, it's frustrating. We are both adults. We shouldn't have to worry about what Ryan thinks.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," I say firmly. No point in worrying about that until Ryan is here. "For now, let's just focus on us."

Chapter 8

Jake

Two weeks have passed since that explosive video call with Ryan, and I'm more nervous now than I was then. Today's the day we pick him up from the airport—his flight landed earlier than expected, cutting our preparation time short, which only makes this worse. Mia suggested we meet him at the airport instead of surprising him at her parents' house, given how volatile things are between us all.

I've barely slept since finding out Ryan was coming home early. The anticipation is eating me alive. I can already imagine what he's going to say.

Mia sits beside me in the car, her right leg bouncing nervously as she checks her phone for what feels like the hundredth time since we left the house. She's just as on edge about this meeting as I am. The tension between us is palpable, but it's not because of any lingering issues—far from it.

No, our connection has only grown stronger over these past two weeks. Differently from before, I haven't changed my mind this time.

We've spent every waking moment together, talking, laughing, and even arguing at times. And, of course, there have been plenty of stolen kisses and heated encounters when we thought we could get away with it without alerting the neighbors.

But now that Ryan is coming home early, everything feels different. The bubble of safety and happiness we've created for ourselves is about to burst, and I don't know what will be left in its wake.

As we pull up to the airport, I glance at Mia one last time before turning off the ignition. "Ready?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

She takes a deep breath, then nods. "As ready as I'll ever be," she says, unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the door handle.

Alright, this is it. We are doing this.

We make our way through the crowded airport terminal, weaving in and out of people. Mia's hand is tucked into mine, reminding me of what we're fighting for. As we approach the designated arrival area, I scan the crowd, searching for any sign of Ryan among the sea of faces.

---