Page 19 of The Charmer
Her eyes tear up, and she nods.
“I can’t promise rainbows and unicorns. I can only promise to be all in with you. Always here, ready to talk, to solve things together, to figure it out. That’s what relationships are.Yeah, they’re messy and complicated because feelings are messy and complicated. But do you want a relationship without big feelings? Do you want a relationship without stable feelings? The constant yo-yo and back and forth and not knowing where you stand?” I ask her the big questions, the ones I remember from our talk at Taps. The erratic nature of her past relationships and her ex-boyfriend.
“No. Not at all.”
“I can only give you me, Jayde.” I lay a hand to the center of my chest. “I’m a lot of things and I’ve got a lot of annoying quirks. But I’m also real and committed and honest to a fault. I’ll nevernotwant to work things out with you. I’ll nevernottalk to you because we disagree. I’ll nevernotbe available when you need me. But you gotta take the risk with me. You gotta bet on us.”
She stares at me for a long moment before stepping closer. “I’m not easy, Reese. I don’t like talking about my feelings or being showy with emotions.”
“I know.”
“And I’m super type-A.”
“I’ve got a touch of OCD.”
“I think I snore.”
I snicker, and hold out my hand. She takes it.
“But I want to bet on us,” she says it like a declaration, her eyes flashing, fierce.
“I already bet on you, baby.” I pull her closer, until she’s against my chest. “Be with me, Jayde. All in, for keeps.”
Her eyes hold mine, our breaths mingling as I wrap my arm around her waist. Slowly, the worry in her gaze recedes and an excited thrill takes its place. “Yes,” she says clearly.
It’s the best word I’ve ever heard. My entire body comes back to life, my mind rejoicing.
I lean into her and kiss her hard.
In an instant, her hands are in my hair and mine are squeezing her ass, pressing her against me. Our kiss is hot, needy, and desperate, all the words we just shared requiring a more physical follow-up.
Her dress is skintight and my hands are itching to get under it. I locate the zipper along her side and begin to tug it downward as she reaches for my belt. My mouth is on her neck, her panting in my ear, turning me on by the second.
I’m hard and happy and just need to get inside her.
“Jayde—”
A sharp knock sounds on the door. “Hey! How much longer do you think you’ll be?” a woman calls.
Jayde closes her eyes and I drop my forehead to hers. Our panting turns into laughter.
“That was close,” she whispers.
“I’m glad I locked the door.”
She nods, biting her bottom lip.
I turn her toward the mirror and zip her dress back up. She fixes her hair and reapplies her smudged lipstick.
“Hey!” The knock is more forceful this time. “Are you okay?”
Jayde winces. “One minute! Sorry!”
I chuckle and re-tuck my shirt.
When we’re both presentable, I hold out my hand. Jayde takes it and I swing open the bathroom door. We step over the threshold together. The woman on the other side falls back, her mouth dropping open in shock, her eyes narrowed in judgement. Other women waiting for the bathroom stare at us with surprise, laughter, or hostility.
Jayde mutters an apology and I give a little wave. But we enter the reception with our heads held high, proud to be here together.
