Page 66 of Jessica's Hero
A lump lodges in my throat.
Then I pull out the gift, and tears spring to my eyes.
It’s a photo. Of me and Thea, back in junior year of high school. We were having a sleepover slash makeover session, and we look absolutely ridiculous. I have a bright green mask on my face and my hair is curled up in fabric rollers all over my head. Thea has a white mask that makes her look like a ghost, and her hair is shiny with theoil she swore would make her curls lay flat. We’re both laughing and making silly faces at the camera, so carefree and unknowing of the hardships we’d yet to encounter.
“I know things have been hard for you,” Thea adds quietly. “I didn’t realize how bad. And I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault.”
“No… But Jess.” Her gaze holds mine. “I want you to know. What happened back then? It’s in the past. I’ve let it go. And now… I’d really just like to have my friend back.”
A few tears break free as I nod at her. “I’d really like that, too.”
We stare at each other for a few seconds, or maybe longer, as unspoken words move between us.
I’m sorry.
I know.
I still want to be friends. I’ll do anything to fix what I did.
You did. And we are.
“Are you sure you had a good time?”
Kane glances over at me once he shuts the car off. While the garage door rumbles down behind us, I answer, “I had an amazing time. Everyone was so nice, and the food was great, and the games?—”
“You mean the ones you didn’t tell me you were a ringer in?” He looks over his shoulder at the box filled with all the prizes I won. There’s an adorable stuffed kitten with a sweet pink nose, several oversized mugs with the Headless Horseman printed on them, and a giant pillow in the shape of a hop flower, courtesy of the Hop-less Horseman.
“My mom would always take me to the arcade to celebrate the end of the school year,” I explain. “Ever since I started school. She’d take the day off and we’d head to a different arcade every year. I got pretty good at them.”
His features soften. “I’m glad you have that memory of her.”
“Me too.” And while I still feel that same twinge of pain at her loss, it’s not as bad as it used to be. “She’d really like you, you know. My mom.”
“Jess.” He strokes my jaw, then cups it to draw my lips to his. “I’m sure I’d love her too.”
Then he sits up straight and casts another quick glance into the backseat. “We should probably get all these gifts inside. And then?—”
“The blindfold?” I pluck the blue silk fabric from where it’s been waiting in the console. “Maybe we could do this first? And then get the presents?”
His jaw goes tight. Heat flares in his gaze. “Are you sure? If you’re too tired…”
“I’m not.” Handing the blindfold to him, I add, “I’ve been thinking about this all evening.”
“Oh.” A slow smile curves up. A smile filled with the promise of things that make me feel weak in the knees. “Well. Since it is your birthday, and I said you get to do whatever you want… How can I argue?”
“Unless you don’t want to.” My courage dips. “If you’re too tired, or you’ve changed your mind…”
“Fuck no.” Almost as fast as I can blink, Kane jumps out of the car and rushes around to my side. He practically rips the passenger-side door open and lifts me out and into his arms. Then he kicks the door closedas he strides to the door that leads to the kitchen. “I am definitelynottoo tired. And I haven’t changed my mind.”
As he carries me inside, his face all intense and hot with desire, my ovaries almost explode from how sexy it is. How sexyheis.
Not once in my life pre-Kane did I ever imagine a man carrying me like this. Like I’m the heroine in some romantic movie, instead of just ordinary Jess, the woman who’d probably end up alone at sixty with only her ten cats for company.
“Kane,” I breathe while he speeds down the hall towards his bedroom. “I really like it when you do this.”
His gaze lowers to mine. “When I do what? Carry you?”
