Page 110 of Before You
How did I get so fucking lucky?
I fold my arms around her too, enjoying the blissful feeling of holding Marley. “I missed you too,” I say, and with her arms still hooked behind my back, Marley pulls me to her bed.
“Not as much as I missed you. Can I play you something?” she asks, her blue eyes sparkling as she sits down on the bed, reaching for her guitar.
“You want to play for me?” I ask, my heart stuttering in my chest.
“It’d be better than hovering in the doorway like a creeper,” Marley teases. “Unless you don’t want to?”
“No, I do,” I blurt out, not needing to be asked twice. I sit, facing her as she takes a deep breath, strumming the guitar.
“A shooting star, a rare glimpse in the night,”she starts, her voice shaking as she peeks up at me. I’m not even sure if I’m breathing.“Gone in the blink of an eye, too fast, too soon. It felt like a dream, but one worth chasing. You’re my once in a lifetime. I looked to the sky, wishing for a sign. You’re everything I wanted, but everything I thought I’d never have.”
I feel tears welling up in my eyes, but I don’t wipe them away, afraid that if I move, Marley will stop singing.
“I lost my way, but I never stopped searching. For the light in the dark, wishing you’d appear. Without a doubt, you’re the only choice. The one I’ve dreamed of, the only thing I need. You’re my once in a lifetime. A shooting star I was lucky to see, burning bright in the night, on your way back to me.”
Marley continues strumming, but she stops when her gaze meets mine.“Amore mio,what’s wrong?” she asks, setting her guitar down.
“Absolutely nothing,” I say, my voice choked up as I feel the tears fall, overwhelmed by how much love I feel for Marley. Shemoves closer to me, swiping my tears away as I stare at her, unable to find the right words.
“Are you sure?”
I nod the best I can with her hands cupping my face, trying to swallow the lump in my throat so I can speak. “I love you.”
“It’s not quite done, but I wanted to play it for you.”
“It was perfect,” I say, meaning every word. “Thank you.”
Marley is glowing, and it feels like the easiest decision I’ll ever make to lean forward and kiss her. I could kiss her forever and never grow tired of it. She moves away a moment later to recline on her pillows, pulling me with her as my mind races.
“No matter what happens, JJ . . . I’ll always find my way back to you. You’re my once in a lifetime,” she whispers, gazing up at me, and I know in my soul there is no ending to our story where we aren’t together.
Marley completes me in a way nothing else ever has or ever will.
There is no me without Marley.
This time when I kiss her, there’s an urgency to it. She hooks her leg around mine, pulling me directly on top of her, pressing our bodies together with too many layers of clothing between them. I can taste my tears on her lips as our mouths move in tandem.
I pull away, my entire body trembling with need, my heart cracked wide open for Marley, scars and all.
“JJ, what is it?”
My hand is shaking as I brush her hair out of her face, collecting my thoughts into words.
“You don’t have to say yes simply because I’m ready, but I don’t want to wait anymore.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Marley
“YOU DON’T HAVE to say yes simply because I’m ready, but I don’t want to wait anymore,” JJ says, and I can feel his hand brushing my hair from my face shaking.
“Are you sure?” I ask, wanting to make sure he means it. I respect him for not wanting to rush things, and I have no problem letting JJ take the lead in how slow or fast we move physically.
He was right when he said he’s not going anywhere.
JJ’s green eyes are smoldering as they gaze into mine. “Never been more sure of anything. I want you.”
