Page 90 of A Heart Worth Finding
“What kind of rules?”
“Let’s see…” she said, momentarily distracted by the slow circles he drew on her skin, each pass arching closer and closer to her center. She had to get this out before all hope was lost—and they lost themselves in each other once again.
“No social media stalking,” she said quickly. “Don’t even try to find me.”
“I don’t know your last name, and ‘Jessica’ is fairly common, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
They hadn’t exchanged last names; she’d never even heard the guys utter his in her presence in that typical way boys do, refusing to call their buddies by their first names.
“Yeah, but my sister’s name isn’t all that common. Just…don’t go looking for me. If we’re doing this, leaving whether or not wecome back together up to the universe, we need to let it happen naturally.”
“Got it,” Jack said, moving to sit up so they were face to face, his abdominals clenching deliciously as he pulled himself up. “Let the universe work its magic. It already did once, right?”
Jessica nodded, reminded of the conversation they’d had on the beach a few days before.
“Remember how you asked me if I believe in fate? And I told you I thought it was just some cheesy platitude people used to explain why they ended up where they had?”
“Yes…” he said slowly, leaning forward to press a kiss to the center of her chest, right over her heart.
“I think…I might feel differently now.”
“How so?” he asked against her skin.
“I think that maybe you, and me, and us, this vacation, this week…maybe because of all of that, I believe in the magic of fate now.”
“I’m glad you’re finally on board,” he said, brushing his mouth over her collarbone, sweeping a slow path up. In a moment, he’d reach her mouth.
“If the universe wants us together,” she said as his lips paused a breath away from hers, “it’ll bring us back together. And Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“Ireallyhope it brings us back together.”
THEN: April 9, 2020
When Jack woke thenext morning, before he even opened his eyes to confirm it, he knew Jessica was gone.
While he wanted to rage and scream, this was part of the agreement. They’d made a deal, and he’d honor it, though the thought of never seeing her again was like a bullet wound in his chest.
At last, he cracked his eyes open and rolled over, running his hand over the spot where she’d slept, surprised to find the sheets cool to the touch.
But then his fingers brushed over a piece of paper, and he rose fully to consciousness, shooting up straight, his eyes darting over the message.
Jack—
I’m sorry for leaving like this, but I couldn’t do the whole tearful goodbye. Walking away from you was hard enough as it was. I just wanted to thank you for this week. I’ll cherish it always, and you will forever be special to me.
Remember our deal.
Love,
Jess
By the time he got the end of the note, tears blurred his vision, a few escaping his eyes to drop heavily onto the paper, smearing Jessica’s words. And for the first time in as long as he could remember, Jack DeLuca cried.
NOW: February 14, 2024
The moment Jessica launchedherself at him, Jack scooped her off her feet and pressed her into the wall. When his aching dick made contact with her warm center—even through their layers of clothing—they both groaned.
