Page 91 of Fighting For You
Nikki, Winnie, Dove, Jo, Elise, and Catherine approached.
“Are you off? Can we hang out now?” Dove asked, hands clasped in front of her.
I laughed. “Yes. Thank goodness. It’s been a really long week.”
“Lots has happened,” Winnie said, her eyes darting over my shoulder.
My stomach flipped as I turned to see Jude talking to Adam. Goodness, he was handsome in that severe way of his. But I’d coaxed smiles out of him. And now, I knew he loved me.
Not just a little. But like… a whole lot.I’ll die with your name on my lips.
Yeah. Not gonna lie, that had played on repeat in my mind. So had last night, after the drama had ended, and I’d finally been bold enough to tell him how I felt. Terrifying, overwhelming, and so… possible. No longer something I felt I couldn’t have access to, I reached out and took what he offered, and I trusted him. And in a way I never had before, I trusted myself.
“He looks at you like you’re the best thing he’s ever seen,” Dove sighed out.
I chuckled. “Not to be cheesy, but I thinkhemight be the best thingI’veever seen.”
They all let out resoundingawwwwsand then we laughed until Dove nearly snorted her sip of champagne and it ended up coming out her nose.
“I kind of love this, though. I mean, you used to hate him and now you’re in love. It’s just so perfect.” Jo beamed at Jude, and Adam must’ve sensed her attention because he turned and sent her a wink.
“I don’t know that I ever actually hated him. Looking back, I mostly hate how I acted, how I made him the default target for all my frustrations and shortcomings. But I do love him, and there’s something pretty beautiful about the fact that he’s seen me at my worst in basically every sense.”
Jude followed Adam’s look and found me. He sent no wink, nor did he smile. He justlookedat me, into me, and it felt like a promise.
“Whew. Yeah. You guys are fire.” Dove fanned herself with her free hand and the others giggled, clearly loving her comment and, I suspected, the reality of me and Jude.
I couldn’t blame them.
Jude and Adam joined us, and Adam’s hand slippedaround Jo’s waist before he leaned in and whispered something in her ear. A blush rose to her cheek, and she shook her head but wouldn’t look at him.
Jude simply came to stand next to me, close enough that my shoulder brushed against his arm. I sent him a smile and he gave me more smoldery eyes.
My stomach did a somersault.
“So what’s next for you two?” Winnie asked.
I glanced up at Jude. “Next? Well, I guess scheduling gets easier at work.”
He huffed a reluctant laugh. “True.”
“Oh, Bruce will be happy about that,” Nikki added.
“Anything else? Big plans? Dates? Engagements? Weddings and babies?” Dove pushed.
Elise shook her head, quieter than usual but not so quiet that she didn’t say, “Way too much too soon, crazy face.”
I laughed, though my insides were dancing the conga at the mention of all those future things Jude and I hadn’t gotten anywhere near talking about. I wanted it all, but I genuinely didn’t know where he stood.
But then, he leaned down and dropped a kiss to my cheek. “Sure. Put us down for all of that, as long as it’s okay with Jess.”
His dark gaze found mine and my mouth dropped open. I laughed once, a disbelieving, overjoyed sound, and said, “Yeah. All of that.”
EPILOGUE
Jude
Because I’d always known Jess didn’t return my feelings, I’d forbidden myself to fantasize about being with her in any way. Nothing physical, and no weddings or houses or kids together, though occasionally, they snuck into my subconscious. Even then, it just hurt too much to feel how desperately I wanted those things in the midst of our dark time.
