Page 47 of Forever Fickle

“Look, maybe I said something that gave you the wrong…”

“Stop,” Jace interrupted, walking over to join her at the front of the vehicle before they headed up the stairs to her condo. “I’m not upset about anything you said – and I don’t know why you feel like you have to undo it all… because it was perfect.”

“I loved hearing you tell them we were in a relationship,” Jace began as she took a few stairs around him to get the door before he got to the top of the steps. “And you are right – you have every right to be there if we are discussing our relationship with someone… but the only person you ever need to talk to is me.”

Karen turned to look at Jace where he stood behind her.

“I’m gonna make mistakes, forget to say something or do something to make you happy, but it will never be intentional.”

“Are you…” she began and then hesitated, realizing she was about to ask him if he was going to find someone else, if he was as fickle as Alpo thought he was… and that wasn’t something either of them could answer.

“I’m not…” he whispered, as if he understood. “I’m not because I stopped looking the moment that I met you.”

Karen felt tears sting her eyes at his sweet words, knowing there was no way she could believe them – or that he could be this wonderful. Instead, she turned, walked inside, and threw her purse on the table with her keys. She heard the door close behind her.

“You don’t believe me,” Jace said quietly.

“I w-want to,” she replied fearfully, her voice cracking. “I’ve been lied to before, called names, taunted, pranked, and you are asking me to believe that some amazing guy that I’ve known for barely a few days, who has a reputation for fooling around, is suddenly not looking anymore because he’s met me?Me?” she scoffed tearfully, each word like acid to her soul because it was all so painfully true.

“I’m nobody,” she began, unable to think as the words poured from her and she felt Jace’s hands on her upper arms, rubbing gently. “I’m a teacher, in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to give. I’m nothing special. No super model, no phenomenal figure. I’ve got mouse-brown hair, a pointy nose, my tops too flat and my bottoms a little too round and…”

“You’re perfect,” Jace replied, turning her towards him. His eyes were so tender and warm that the words she was about to say died in her throat. He stood there, looking at her, his hand sliding up to cup the side of her neck.

“I’ve dated models who couldn’t put a sentence together. I’ve met women who were shaped like hourglasses but bored me to tears… but you? You are everything that I didn’t know I was looking for – and I’m kinda glad you are in the middle of nowhere, because then someone couldn’t win you away from me before I had a chance to find you.”

“W-What?” she breathed, stunned.

The warmth of his hand was driving her nuts, as she couldn’t help but stare at that beloved smile that graced his lips. His thumb ran along the line of her jaw, making her shiver, as she listened to him.

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met… both inside and out,” he whispered tenderly. “I’m not planning on screwing up this relationship, Karen. If you are scared or can’t trust me yet – it’s okay. Just give me time to earn it.”

“I want to,” she uttered. “Everything in me is telling me to believe this is real, but I’m scared.”

“I know, Tinkerbell…”

Her breath caught at the unexpected endearment, as he leaned forward towards her, and she realized he might actually kiss her. The second the thought hit her mind, Jace backed away.

“I’m going to do this right,” he breathed, and took a step back. “Gosh I want to kiss you, but I made a promise – and I’m not going to break it no matter how much it kills me to do so.”

“Jace…”

“Nope. Every word I’ve ever said to you is the truth – and I won’t start breaking it now. I’m serious about this, about us, and part of that has to do with respect and trust.”

“I do trust you.”

“And I will never break that trust,” he replied earnestly. “Are you hungry? I’ll fix us something and maybe it will keep my mind off of things. Goodness, you are breathtakingly beautiful and I’m a bloomin’ idiot.”

The earnestness in his voice had her laughing – as she suddenly rushed over and threw her arms around his middle, hugging him. She pressed her cheek to his back and heard his heart-felt sigh as his hands held hers, moving them from his stomach to just over his heart.

“I’m going to do right by you, Tink… I swear it,” he breathed.

“I believe you.”

CHAPTER14

KAREN

Saturday

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