Page 99 of Perfectly Complicated
“Don’t say it,” I murmur, putting a finger to his lips. “Not yet. Not until I’m ready to say it back.”
I know what he’s about to confess—those three little words I haven’t said to anyone since my ex.
Maybe I’ll always carry some scars. Maybe I’ll always hesitate before leaping. But if anyone could help me learn to trust again, to believe I’m whole and worthy of love, it’s him.
“Instead, show me,” I say quietly.
“Show you what?”
“What this could be.”
He presses his lips to mine, a promise in his kiss. “I will,” he murmurs. “For as long as you’ll let me.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Janie
“Merry Christmas!” Rourke’s voice rings out across the auditorium as he strides down the aisle toward the stage.
All the kids turn toward him, their faces lighting up like the tree on stage.
In just a month, he’s become the heart of this pageant, more beloved than even me. And I’m the teacher.
But I don’t mind, because I know what’s behind this change, the real reason he’s greeting everyone like he’s actually excited about the pageant.
“Have you been behaving for Ms. Bennett?” he asks, his eyes sliding to mine.
“We’ve been SO good!” Lily says exuberantly, skipping to catch up to him. “Well, except for when Preston put glue in Emmalynn’s hair today.”
“It wasn’t my fault!” Preston protests. “I thought it would come right off!”
Rourke tilts his head with the patience of a saint. “Maybe ask Ms. Bennett before you glue anything next time.” He ruffles Preston’s hair before he steps in front of the rest of the group. “Have the rest of you been good for Ms. Bennett?”
They all nod convincingly.
“We’ve been perfect angels,” says Emmalynn, who’s ironically wearing her angel wings for the show.
“Good. Because Ms. Bennett wants us to put on the best Christmas show this year. And we can’t do that unless you listen to her.”
“Does that meanyoulisten to her?” Lily asks.
His gaze lands directly on me, a smile curving his lips. “Only when she asksnicely.”
My stomach flips, and I look back at my notes for the rehearsal, trying to hide the heat blooming on my cheeks.
“All right, everyone,” I say, focusing on the script. “Let’s run through the scene where the carolers arrive to sing ‘Silent Night.’”
“Ms. Bennett,” Jack interrupts, raising his hand. “Are you and Mr. Rourke married?”
My head snaps up. “What? Of course not. Why would you think that?”
“Because you keep making heart eyes at each other,” he says, glancing between us.
“We do not make heart eyes.”
“Yes, you do,” Lily chimes in. “Yesterday you were doing the same thing my mommy and daddy do right before they get all mushy.”
“Ewww,” Jack cringes.
