Those words travel the short distance across to me and wrap my heart in a soft caress. They've barely left her mouth when my lips collide with hers. Soft. Warm.Mine. I don't waste any time and lift my hands to grip her head, my fingers slipping through her silky strands as my tongue dips in, seeking hers out to tango with. I've missed everything about her mouth, her body.Her.I want to trail my lips over every surface of her smooth skin and drown myself in her.
For a few precious seconds, she loses herself in the kiss with me, molding into my touch.
But then I feel her hands press against my chest, pushing me back just a little.
“You didn't let me finish,” she says breathlessly. “I was going to say, but I think we should take it slow.”
I drop my forehead to hers and close my eyes. Fuck. Take things slow? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't flooded with disappointment. I thought if she still loved me, she'd be eager to get back together, especially after all the changes I've been making. But I guess she hasn't seen these changes in action. She only knows what I've told her tonight. She needs time to see how serious I am about everything, about her.
The image of Walter's obituary card flashes in my mind as another reminder.
I let her down the only time she truly needed me. And not only that, she found another woman at my apartment. I can't imagine that is something easy for her to forget.
If taking things slow is what she needs, then I'll do that for her.
“Okay,” I say, pulling back a couple of inches, my fingers still threaded in her hair. “We'll go slow.” I use my grip to pull her forward again, but this time, my lips land near her hairline. “But I want you to know. If you need something,anything, I'm here. I'm going to show you how important you are to me, okay? I'm not going anywhere.”
She nods, sucking her lips between her teeth. “Thank you,” she whispers.
I move to the other end of the couch with the remote, lifting her leg to rest in my lap. “Do you want to watch an episode ofElementarybefore I leave?”
Laughing lightly, she nods again. “I'd love to.”
EPILOGUE
JASMINE - 1 YEAR LATER
I sit with one of my nails lodged firmly between my teeth as I watch Cam take the lead in the second-last lap. I already know the outcome. He called me as soon as the race was over to let me know he was okay and that he ended up in second place. But since I don't like missing any of his races, I recorded it to watch as soon as I got home from work today.
Even knowing everything is fine doesn't seem to stop me from anxiously watching from the edge of my seat, though. It's not until I see him crossing the finish line that I feel my shoulders finally relax.
He had some sort of dinner he had to attend tonight, so he won't be flying back until the morning.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to join him on the trip this time, and although he's only been gone for two days, I miss him like crazy.
I switch the TV off when there's a knock at the door and grab my purse off the floor before opening it up. “I'm ready.”
Graham stands there, fiddling with his phone before looking up and smiling. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. You don't think it's a little much for where we're going?”
“Nah, who gives a shit if it is anyway.”
Graham wanted to go to the pizza festival at the City Hall Plaza, and since Cam isn't here, I decided to go along with him.
“Alright. Let's go.” I stick my hands into the pockets of my cute sundress and follow after him.
Cam had bought me this dress one of the last times he was away, and I couldn't go with him. He said it made him think of me because of the little orchids on the pockets. So now, it makes me think of him.
“How was work?” he asks once we get on the road. “Was the new girl there?”
“Yes,Aprilwas. I asked if she wanted to join us but she had other plans and said she'd come next time.” I've made sure to make any of the new nurses feel welcome and included over the past year and have made some really good friends by doing so. I turn to study Graham's side profile for a moment. “You've asked about her more than once. Do you like her or something?”
He scoffs. “No. I was just curious.” Then after a brief glance my way, he turns the radio on. “Betterman” byVirginia to Vegasplays through the speakers. He's been a little weird in the dating department since moving here. Although there have been a few women interested in him, he hasn't returned that interest or gone on any dates.
Whenever I ask about it, he just laughs it off or says he wants to be single for a while.
Whatever. He can have his secrets.
