“Done. Already thought of this. Tell me the worst parts of yourself, and watch me stay.”
She exhales like she’s been holding that breath for years, and when she leans into me, I don’t hesitate. I pull her to me and press a kiss to the top of her head. But then she pulls away, suddenly.
“And how do you know you’re not confusing a sense of obligation for these feelings?”
This woman. She is bound and determined to talk me out of loving her, wanting her for the rest of my life.
I scrub a hand down my face and shake my head, more amused than frustrated. “Josie. You really think I’d do all this”—I point to the paper in her lap—“track down Chad, talk him into signing rights over, plan a whole future in my head, because I feel obligated?”
Her lips press together like she’s trying not to cry again.
I lower my voice and take her hand in mine. “I don’t see you as a responsibility, love.” My voice cracks, and I take a beat to gather myself. “I see you as everything. You will always be everything to me. I want to be with you simply because I can’t imagine living a day of my life without you in it.”
Standing I go to pick up my old copy ofA Farewell to Arms. The very one I was reading the night the most amazing woman walked into my life. When I get back to her, I drop it in her lap.”
Jo’s brows pull together. “You said this was private.”
“Open it.”
“Open it,” Tyler repeats, and slowly I turn the pages until I get to the title page where he tore that note from.
My eyes stay fixated there, because drawn right above where he ripped a corner to write me a note all those years ago, are fourteen tally marks. Above them, in handwriting I’d know anywhere, are the wordsMaybe the universe will find a way for me to keep you.
The very words I wished aloud, tangled together under a fraternity blanket.
Emotions pummel me, crashing around me in waves so quickly I can’t even pick one to name. My mind races, full of questions, but my throat tightens, voice caught behind the lump swelling at its base.
Finally, after staring at the page for what feels like an eternity, I find my voice, gaze lifting to his. “What does this mean?”
Tyler’s face, so devastatingly handsome, all strong lines and soft edges, goes tender.
“Jo, sweetheart, what do you think this means?”
“I-I don’t know.” I stammer, though the truth is staring me in the face.
“Is it you don’t know, or you’re afraid to say it aloud?” heasks gently. “Afraid to let your heart accept what your eyes are seeing?”
My nose starts to sting, a glimmer of tears blurring my vision. “Maybe that.”
Tyler snakes a hand around my shoulders, pulling me to him and presses his lips to my forehead. Then, with his cheek resting against the top of my head he speaks again.
“You still don’t get it, do you? Do you see these?” He points to each tally mark one by one and my eyes track the path his fingers mark across the page. “Each and every mark on this page represents a year I went without you in my life. When I left the next day, as ludicrous as it would sound to others, as improbable a situation it was, I knew in my bones I was leaving one half of my heart behind. You left an indelible mark on my soul, Josephine Thomas. I was never without a feeling of loss. This means that for fourteen years I’ve thought of you.”
I break away, looking at him in confusion. “You told me you’ve had relationships. You even proposed once.”
“I also told you none of them worked out. Do you want to take a guess as to why that was?”
“Why?” I whisper, my voice trembling.
He watches me for a long minute, a soft smile on his face. “Because none were you. None made me laugh like you. Not a single one of them had quicksilver eyes I can never seem to look away from. Before I wrote the note, I watched you sleep for a minute, already planning a future with you. Believe me when I say in one single night, you ruined me for anyone else. It’s always been you, Jo.”
A single tear slips out, and I let it fall. “I bet you say that to all the girls,” I say, laughing.
Tyler chuckles and shakes his head. “Just you, love. I love you so very much, Jo. So much.”
My mouth descends on his and he kisses me slowly, like he has all the time in the world. And he does, because he’s notgoing anywhere. Tyler is not going anywhere. My heart leaps inside my chest at the thought.
We lose track of time, the world narrowing to Tyler and me, savoring this moment together. Our lips meet and part, his tongue exploring my mouth, slow and languid. One of Tyler’s large hands cradles the back of my head, his fingers wrapping in my curls as I inch back to look into his eyes. A quiet joy blooms in my heart, leaving me dizzy with it all. He captures my mouth again with his, and I smile against his lips, giddy knowing that I get to spend a lifetime, and then some, being kissed like this.
