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When she stands, I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her hair. “Thank you for being such an amazing friend to me. You always know just the right things to say.”
She pulls back and smiles. “Anytime. What are best friends for?”
Twenty minutes later there’s a knock on my door. I rush over, and the moment I open the door and see Jared, a rush of butterflies flutters in the pit of my stomach.
My eyes flit over his face, and I’m curious as to why he’s standing on my doorstep after us not having much contact other than his daily texts. “Is everything all right?”
Jared nods and then gives me a sad smile. “It’s fine. Can I come in?”
I push open the door. “Of course.”
Jared steps up and wraps me in a one-armed hug once he’s inside the door, but he seems so hesitant, like he’s trying to respect me and not overstep some boundary with me. “I’ve missed you.”
I squeeze him back, but his tone worries me, and I know he’s probably here to tell me good-bye. “I’ve missed you too.”
I walk into the living room and sit in the chair and motion to the couch, where I offer Jared a seat.
Jared clears his throat. “I know you said you needed space, and I don’t want to push you to talk to me before you are ready, but I needed to come here to tell you good-bye.”
My heart clenches because I knew this day was quickly closing in on us. I’m not ready for him to go yet. I don’t want to lose him again, but I can’t force him to stay and be with me. I’ve been keeping up with reports on his band while I’ve been at home. Every channel on TV has been running the story about the missing Wicked White front man.
“I heard they found Ace White,” I say.
He nods. “They found him in some dumpy trailer park in Ohio. The guy didn’t want to be found, that’s for sure.” He sighs. “I talked with my tour manager, Jane Ann, and she told me it was best if I come back to California, because as soon as Ace gets back, the label wants to throw us into the studio. They want to cash in on all this publicity, since Ace’s disappearance thrust the band into the limelight.”
“So are you leaving now . . . or tomorrow?” Selfishly I wish that the answer will be never, since I want more time with him so we can figure out whatever this thing is between us.
“My flight is tomorrow evening, but that’s what I’ve come to talk to you about.”
I lift my eyebrows. “Oh?”
“I want you to come with me.” My eyes widen, but he holds up his hand, palm out. “I know that sounds crazy, but just hear me out. You’re out on summer break, and I figured if you came with me, we’d have a couple weeks to spend together—just the two of us—at my place, getting to know each other again.”
“You still want to be with me—even after everything?” I ask.
Jared nods. “I know things are still raw, but I want you to know that I need you in my life. If you’re ready to move on, I want it to be with me. I’ve already explained my intentions to my brother. He knows that I still love you.” Jared reaches over and takes my hand in his. “I guess what I’m asking is if you’re willing to give me another chance at your heart.”
My heart thumps hard in my chest. This is what I’ve been waiting on for five years. I’ve missed him and what we had together so much.
“If you give me another shot, I swear I’ll do right by you. I’ll guard your heart every second of every day, and I promise I will never let you down again. You can count on me, London. I’m a changed man,” he pleads.
Jared’s eyebrows pull in, and a slight frown flickers across his face when I don’t immediately answer. This is a huge, life-changing decision, but when I stare into his eyes I see sincerity in them. He’s proved since he showed back up in my life that he’s changed—that he’s in control and has a better ability to deal with adversity and pain. He’s matured, and he’s become a man I can picture spending the rest of my life with.
The concern in his eyes chokes me up a bit. I’m sure waiting for my decision isn’t easy on him, but after what he put me through, he deserves to sweat it out while I make up my mind.
I stare at him, and a tear slips down my cheek. Jared is quickly by my side. The way he wraps his arms around me, pulling me in tight, makes me feel like he’s willing to be there to protect me forever. I cry harder as I worry that one day, just like Wes said, Jared will leave me behind again to go be some rock star, and I’ll be left here alone.
“Don’t cry,” he whispers and folds me into his arms even tighter. “I’ve got you.”
I cling to him like he’s my life raft on a sinking ship. “Promise me that I won’t lose you again, Jared, because you’re all I’ve got. I won’t make it through us splitting up again if I let you back into my heart.”
His fingers smooth down the hair on the back of my head. “You don’t have to worry about that, London. I won’t leave your side again. I swear it to you, and I mean that.”
“Please don’t ever break that vow,” I say as I burrow myself against him.
Jared pulls back and cradles my face in both of his hands. “I swear it. I’ll be here for you until I take my last breath on this earth. I’ve learned my lesson about staying away from you. You are everything to me, London. I know I have a crazy way of showing it, but you are and always have been. I spent five long years without you, and I know that being away from you is something I never want
to go through again. You make me a better man, and no matter what life throws at us, I’ll stick by your side and keep my fucking temper in check because I never want to do anything that fucks this up,” he whispers.
