Page 130 of The Jack*ss in Class

“Oh, Flynn.” She took my hand and brought it up to her cheek, leaning into it. “I can’t begin to imagine what that was doing to you.”

“Dad helped me see it differently,” I continued. “That leaving doesn’t have to mean losing. That distance doesn’t break what matters.”

Tempest smiled, soft and understanding. “He’s right.”

“I’ve spent my whole life avoiding the kind of love that could hurt me if I lost it.” I didn’t really understand that until right now.

“But then you came along,” I reached up to brush a curl from her face. “And suddenly two weeks wasn’t enough. Suddenly, I was breaking all my own rules. I was falling for you, and it terrified me.”

“Flynn—”

“Let me finish,” I said gently. “I need to say this.”

She nodded, her eyes never leaving mine.

“I’ve been scared of loving you the way I do, because what if I lose you? What if something happens? What if it all falls apart?” I took a breath, steadying myself. “And leaving Denver for LA felt like losing you just when I realized how in love with you I am.”

THIS ABOVE ALL

TEMPEST

Flynn pulled back slightly, his hands framing my face. “I love you, Tempest Navarro. And whatever happens next, wherever I end up playing, that doesn’t change.”

My breath caught. We’d been dancing around these words for weeks, both of us feeling them but neither quite brave enough to say them aloud. Until now.

“Te amo, Flynn.” I whispered, the truth of my love settling into my bones.

His smile was blinding.

He kissed me then, deep and tender, a promise without words. When we broke apart, he pressed his forehead to mine. “You’re not worried about the distance? About LA?”

I wasn’t. Because I was thinking about moving there too. Assuming this FlixNChill deal finally went through, and I had faith they’d figure out the leak, so it would happen, I’d been thinking it would work out great to be where the action was anyway.

“No. Not even a little.” I gave him a sly little smile. “It won’t be that far.”

“You’re right, just a quick plane ride.”

“What if it was shorter than that? Like... a lot shorter.”

“You buying some super-secret sneaky fast jet with your book money, babe?”

“No, but I was thinking I might...go with you. To LA.” I’d just made a huge assumption that he wanted me to go with him. “I mean, we don’t have to like, live together or...”

Flynn picked me up into his arms and spun me around like a Princess Barbie Ballerina. “Fuck yeah, I want us to live together. Having you there with me would make everything that much better. Please move to LA with me.”

He set me back down on my feet and cupped my cheeks, searching my face. “Unless it’s too soon. If you’re not ready?—”

Was this all too fast? Yes. Was I going for it anyway? Also, yes. “I do want to. I’m moving away from my family and starting a whole new life too, so it would definitely be better knowing I had you to come home to after a long day at... work? That sounds so weird to say.”

The back door swung open and Gryff burst out, his eyes wide with excitement. “Hells to the yeah. We can have slumber parties, and midnight margaritas. I’m getting us all matching pajamas.”

He grabbed us both into a hug and if my eyes weren’t popping out from being bear hugged to death, they would at the thought of living with both Kingman twins. That hadn’t quite fit into my future plans.

“Gryff,” Flynn croaked out.

He released us, looked between us both and thenlaughed so hard he snorted. “I’m just kidding. I’m not moving in with you two and getting your love cooties all over me. I’m fairly sure your shiny new domestic bliss and the way Tempest moans your name when you’re making her come would severely cramp my style.”

Oh, god. He’d heard that? But also, thank goodness.

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