Page 75 of You Wish
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispered.
“Just tell me the truth,” he said, his heart fucking on his sleeve for her to take or reject. If he wanted to come in first in her life, he could no longer take the passive route—he had to put itout there, no matter what the outcome or he’d regret it. “Do you love me?”
Her eyes filled with tears as she gently cupped his face. Then she lowered her head and gave him the sweetest promise of a kiss. It said more than words could. It was like the past and present converged into one hell of a moment—one of those moments between the moments he’d been talking about.
Once she started kissing she didn’t stop, until one bled into the next, over and over again. She began to move with grace and ease, a soft confidence and deliberate pace. His hands held her hips, guiding her until they hit the perfect pace, their bodies synced. And when they hit that magical dance, he fucking knew she was his wife.Knew it.
Their kisses grew more insistent as their tempo quickened. Then, as if a wall shattered, she was all the way there, with him, giving movement to her emotions. And his heart ate up every breath, every thrust.
“Jake,” she said against his mouth.
He opened his eyes and found her staring at him with an intensity that he felt all the way to the depths of his soul.
“I’ve got you. Just fall, I’ll catch you.”
That was all she needed. Her core tightened, nearly milking him, and she surrendered to each shuddering pulse. Without further warning she blew. Her back arched, those perfect tens jutting out, her head thrown back in pleasure.
The beautiful display of vulnerability did him in. Jake gave another thrust and,bingo, he was there with her, falling into the unknown but excited to make it his norm. Excited to make her his.
When they both came down, they were breathing heavy, their legs and bodies intertwined. Slick skin on slick skin. He rolled her to their side and wrapped an arm around her. “That was perfect.”
“Perfect doesn’t even come close to what that was,” she said, and then all he heard was her soft breathing.
25
Georgia was taking a huge chance, walking through the house with all her luggage. She should have left it all behind, but she didn’t want to give Jake a reason to find her. As long as there was even a thread of hope, he’d spend his every last breath trying to win her back.
She’d rehearsed her escape in her head a dozen times, timing each step to the creak of the floorboards, every breath held tight so she wouldn’t wake anyone.
She’d already called a ride-share and he was seven minutes out. Her luggage was on the porch, lined up like little soldiers going into battle. All she needed was her purse—which was on the couch.
“One last trip,” she said. “Then this chapter is closed.”
Even saying the wordchaptermade her heart swell up with unshed emotion, because there was no time for emotion. Later there would be, but that later was a good three hours away while tucked into her bed, eating Ben and Jerry’s, and watchingLove Island.
She padded into the living room, clutching her boots to her chest like a shield, going for incognito. But the light broke her plan.
Rachel sat on the couch in a hoodie and plaid pajama bottoms, steam rising from her mug of tea. She didn’t even flinch at the sight of Georgia, just arched one brow in a way that made Georgia feel twelve years old again, sneaking cookies before dinner.
“Well,” Rachel said, voice smooth but edged with knowing, “look who’s up before the rooster.” Her gaze flicked down to Georgia’s sweater and jeans. She didn’t have to say more.
Georgia’s face went hot. “I was just?—”
“Slipping out?” Rachel supplied. She took a slow sip of tea, then gestured toward the chair across from her. “Sit.”
Georgia hesitated, then lowered herself into the seat, her boots still pressed tight against her chest. The room smelled faintly of lemon cleaner and peppermint tea, too clean and too sharp, and Georgia wished she could disappear into it.
Rachel set her mug down, folding her hands around it. “Listen, I’m not here to give you hell. But I am going to be honest. You leaving? It’s the right call.”
Georgia blinked, throat working. “You think so?”
Rachel’s gaze softened, but she didn’t flinch. “I know so. Jake’s life, it isn’t simple. He’s on the road nine months out of the year, sometimes more. That’s his world.” She leaned forward. “And you? You’ve built something in Austin. A career, a life that’s rooted. Those two things don’t fit together, no matter how much you want them to.”
Georgia’s fingers tightened around her boots. She tried to find words, but Rachel wasn’t done.
“And kids,” Rachel went on, quieter now, like she didn’t want to twist the knife but knew she had to. “You’ve said you don’t want them. Jake? He’s always pictured himself with a family oneday. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next year, but it’s in him. He’s a man who talks about traditions, about teaching his kids to drive, about having someone waiting for him when he comes home.” She gave a faint, humorless laugh. “Hell, he’s been saying that since we were teenagers.”
Georgia’s throat burned.
