Page 67 of Forever Fickle

Karen laid her palm tenderly against his cheek to calm him.

“Shhh…” she breathed, feeling suddenly warm at the way he was claiming her, realizing that maybe he did mean what he said about loving her.

This wasn’t a man being casual about something. This was a possessive man claiming his woman protectively – and that spoke to her in a way she never expected.

“I’m not looking, Jace,” she reassured him lovingly. “You’re it.”

“You’re it for me, too…” he said tenderly, kissing her, just as his watch started to beep. She heard him mutter a faint curse under his breath as he pulled away.

“Time to go,” she questioned, already knowing the answer and saw his nod as he swallowed, not looking at her. “I know. I’ve been dreading this too.”

“If you feel lonely or need something, call my mom or sister,” he urged. “They’ll talk your ear off, telling you all the embarrassing stories about me as a kid… and they will be thrilled to hear from you.”

“I will,” she replied, smiling tearfully as she realized why he was leaving the information. He wanted to give her some way to know more about him, to be in touch with part of his world – the only accessible part of him for the next few months. “Thanksgiving in Massachusetts?”

“Yes ma’am…” he smiled. “We can fly in together or I can meet you there. We can make plans together via email the next few weeks.”

“I’d like that,” she admitted, wiping her eyes. “Now, one of us has to be the strong one, Jace. Get your bag because I don’t want you getting in trouble or missing your flight.”

“I know…” he sighed, reminding her of a child dragging his feet in that moment, causing her to chuckle in amusement at the sight as she picked up her purse by the door.

Getting out her phone, she suddenly felt the urge to take one more photo before they got to the airport - knowing she would be crying. That wasn’t how she wanted to remember him. She wanted to think of them, him, here in this haven, with love in his eyes.

“Can you hold on for two seconds?” she asked the moment he picked up his bag – and saw him drop it with a loud thud that had her wincing for her neighbors living below.

Jace walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle and immediately put his head beside hers. She stared at their reflection in the screen, realizing that her words were so true a few minutes ago.

“This is it,” she began, looking at his reflection unflinchingly as he held her gaze. “There’s no one else for me.”

She clicked the button and saw him raise his hand towards her phone, pressing capture one more time, before sliding the bar over to record video… as he turned towards her, slowly kissing her.

“I love you, Tink…” he breathed against her lips – and she melted, knowing he was recording this for her, to have the next few months.

“I love you, too…” she admitted softly, her voice hesitant, afraid.

Jace let out a soft guttural sound of acknowledgement that he’d heard her words. That kiss deepened as she wrapped her arms around him, turning into his arms, and letting her phone fall to the ground.

“Say it again…” he breathed. “I want to hear it every time I close my eyes or think of us.”

“I love you…” she repeated, feeling stronger and more secure in that moment because of his reaction.

“This is going to be okay, I swear it,” he whispered urgently, kissing her with almost a desperation in his voice. “I love you so much and I am coming home. We’re gonna figure this all out. I promise.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” she chuckled nervously, clinging to him as he picked her up off the floor, hugging her tightly as her feet dangled and her arms wrapped around his neck. Her shoulders were nearly even with his, looking directly into his eyes as she spoke. “But to be the voice of reason? We do have to leave…”

He cursed again – and then laughed as he put her down.

“Send me that video,” he begged, his eyes shiny. “I want that, so when I get scared, lonely, or afraid – I can see your beautiful eyes and hear your voice.”

She nodded, picking up her phone and seeing it was still recording-quickly turning it off. She texted the video to him as he picked up his bag, hefting it on his shoulder… before extending a hand towards her.

Karen put her hand in his and nodded.

* * *

Three hours later,he was gone.

CHAPTER19

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