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“Then we’ll skip the whole awkward part where you invite me inside and uh”—he clears his throat, glancing at my mother—“and head right to the ending, which is the best part, really. Only there’s one thing Darcy didn’t get right,” he says, and it clicks, what he’s doing.
The music.
Everything he’s saying.
He’s recreating the end ofBridget Jones’s Diaryfor me.
I cover my mouth with my hands, afraid to laugh, afraid to allow my heart to soar like it wants to.
“That ending was perfect,” I say. What did Darcy possibly get wrong?”
Jace steps even closer, until he can reach out and touch me. “He forgot to tell her he loves her. Because I love you, Cupcake. I have for a while.”
A burst of startled laughter comes from behind me. Probably from one of his friends thinking this is some kind of joke. I’m too busy reminding myself to breath as I stare up at Jace to care.
Because he loves me. Jace Taggart freaking loves me.
And I love him back.
The staggering realization sweeps through, nearly knocking me off my feet. “Can you say that again?” I ask. “Just one more time to be sure I heard you right?”
Laughter rumbles around me.
“Wait. He’s serious?” a voice says. “Is this for real?”
“Isaid, I love you.” The muscle in Jace’s jaw flexes as he reaches out, taking my fingers in his hands. “I don’t care who knows it or hears it, and I certainly don’t give a damn about anyone’s approval but yours. I should’ve owned it from the start because you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Because I love you, and I’d rather have you and nothing else at all, than everything without you.”
My lips part only to allow a soft cry to escape while my heart splinters. I want to reach up and wrap my arms around his neck, stretch onto my toes and kiss him, but something holds me back. And I know what it is. “Jace, I . . .” My voice cracks and my chest swells with emotion, taking up too much space for words.
“Had you given me the choice, had it been between you or telling everyone, I would’ve chosen you,” he says, his voice low. “I just got scared, but I promise from here on out, every time I’ll choose you. If I could go back and change it—”
Unable to take it any longer, I reach up and slide my hands onto the nape of his neck as I pull him to me, pressing my mouth against his.
Applause erupts around us, starting as a whisper and turning into a dull roar. Until he pulls back and grins down at me with a twinkle in his eye.
“Don’t you have something to say to me?” He arches a brow, and I frown as the applause dies down and the familiar notes of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” hit a crescendo, and I laugh.
“Maybe I need to kiss you better.” He frowns before he parts my lips with his one more time and the people around us fade away until all that’s left is us and this perfect moment he created, teasing and tasting and leaving me breathless.
A grin skates over my mouth, turning into a full-blown smile. I pull back and say, “Wait a minute . . . nice guys don’t kiss like that.”
He fists a hand beside me, whispering in my ear for only me. “Oh, yes, they fucking do.”
I laugh before he can kiss me again, but I can see in his eyes that he wants to. “How did you remember that?”
“I remember everything about you, Cupcake, remember?”
My fingers play with the hair on the nape of his neck, and I know that even though I’m scared, I love him, and it’s unfair of me to doubt him, to make his decisions for him. I owe it tomyself and to him to see this through, to give him a chance. “I love you, Jace,” I say before we’re bombarded. “I love you so damn much my heart hurts.”
He exhales, melting into me with what I think is relief as he presses his forehead to mine. “Thank God.”
People come at us from all sides. Graham shoves him in the shoulder, eyes wide. “Dude. Teagan mentioned this possibility, but . . . well, I have no idea how the hell this happened, but congrats, man.”
“You two are adorable,” Mackenzie chimes in, giving me a little squeeze.
“Dude.” Atlas glances between Jace and Teagan. “I can’t believe you fucking kissed her like that and you’re still alive. Is this okay, man?” he asks, his gaze resting on my brother.
Teagan’s woolly gaze falls to Jace, and everyone falls silent as we wait for his response. “I was wrong,” Teagan says, sticking a hand out for Jace to shake. “You’re family, and I should’ve given you the benefit of the doubt.”
