Page 89 of The Heart Shot
He sighed, leaning forward so his forehead rested against mine.
“I don’t want us to have an end. I want to find out where this can go. I know you’re scared of the future, but I think it’s worth it, Els.Ourlove is worth the risk. It’s worth fighting for.”
The feeling his words elicited brought me back to when I had played with a bunch of puppies several years ago. They had jumped all over me, licking the heck out of my face, and were desperate to love me and be loved in return.
That’s how Jameson’s words made me feel.
Desperately loved; like nothing could ever ruin it because he was happy to simply be with me.
I was expecting to have to beg him for another chance, to try to convince him that I truly wanted to try this, but I didn’t have to.
He wanted to be with me, despite my fears and reservations.
That alone proved that he wasn’t like my parents, or Ben. Jameson knew that there were likely difficult times ahead for us, but instead of giving up and refusing to face it, he wanted to walk through it with me.
The thought had my lips curling into a smile.
He arched a brow. “You’re…smiling?”
A half laugh, half sob broke out of my throat before I launched myself into his arms, bringing my lips to his. He held me with gentle, reverent hands.
“Does that mean you want to give this a shot?” he murmured against my lips.
I giggled, tightening my arms around his neck in response. “Yes.”
His hands pressed into my sides as he laid me back on the couch and lowered himself next to me. With gentle fingers, he brushed the hair from my face, and I shivered as they ran through my hair.
Jameson took his time, kissing me like I had never been kissed before. Each of his movements were confident, slow, savoring. When we finally broke apart, he smiled the sweetest, most breathtaking smile I had ever seen.
“We’re worth it, Elsie. I promise,” he whispered as his lips brushed the shell of my ear, sending a shiver through me. “We’ll take it one day at a time. We’ll tell each other about our days, how we’re feeling, if we’re angry.”
He pulled away from my ear to look me in the eyes. “This only ends if we stop fighting for each other. It’s a choice, and I choose you, sunshine.”
Elsie
The smell of cider and apple donuts filled the air as Jameson and I walked, hand in hand, across Beck’s Pumpkins and headed into the little shop.
I still couldn’t believe it.
Jameson was mine. We were together.
“Well, well, well. Look who it is,” a familiar voice rang out. Aunt Jo came around the corner, eyeing our hands before looking between the two of us.
“Well, what do you have to say for yourselves?” she demanded. If I hadn’t already had an encounter with her, I would have thought she was angry.
Jameson tugged me forward before pulling me against his chest and wrapping his arms around me. His woodsy cologne made his hug even better.I loved being in his arms. There was no other place I felt so treasured and loved, so wanted, sosafe.
“Aunt Jo, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Elsie.”
For a minute, Aunt Jo just stared at us before she squealed. Yes,squealed,and ran toward us, folding us in a big bear hug.
“It’s about time,” she muttered.
I couldn’t help but laugh at how similar her reaction was to Jameson’s mom’s. We had told her a few days ago, and she had been absolutely over the moon for us. At first, I was afraid she would be upset that I had tried to break up with Jameson, that in doing so I had proven I wasn’t right for her son, but Maggie had simply pulled me into her arms, squeezing the breath from my lungs.
“All that matters is that you came to your senses. All the rest can be figured out along the way,” his mom had said. “I’m happy you gave Jamie a chance, my dear.”
Aunt Jo planted a kiss on my forehead, pulling me out of the memory, before doing the same with Jameson.
