Page 141 of My Favorite Hero

“I didn’t know you were home.”

“I passed you in the truck, but you didn’t look up.”

“I was thinking.”

“About?”

“Jesse,” I pleaded. “Don’t.”

“I have to. I can’t let you leave and not try to make you understand. I love you.”

I shook my head, and he stepped in front of me, taking me by the shoulders.

“I do. I love you.”

I felt the tears building.

“Look at me.”

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze. He looked as exhausted as I felt. Tormented. Sad.

“I know you’re scared, Pix. I am too. I worry I’m not enough for you. That you’ll feel the same way about me my family did. I know you think love has to hurt and that you’ll always come last, but not with me. You will always be first.”

I drew in a stuttering breath, unable to talk. He kept going.

“I know you’re afraid because of your mother. I won’t let you lose yourself. I love how we are together. We make the other person better. I don’t want you to lose that. Or change.

“Lou loved you. She put you first. She loved me because I was enough. She showed us the greatest example of love. She proved it was possible to be loved without pain.”

A sob escaped my mouth.

“If you need proof, here it is. I love you more than anything. I will give up my job here, my house, and my life and come with you so you can have your dream.”

I shook my head wildly. “No—you can’t⁠—”

He silenced me with a shake of his head. “I can. You mean more to me than any of that. I want to give you your dream. But I want to be a part of it.”

All I could do was cry.

“Tell me you want that, Pix.”

“I-I’m scared,” I admitted.

He smiled, his eyes softer now. “So am I.”

“You would do that?”

“Yes. And I have something else to prove how much I love you.”

He held out his hand, and I took it, something easing inside me as he touched me. He led me down the path to the front of the house and pointed to the porch. “I bought you that for here, there, wherever we live.”

That was a set of wind chimes. Possibly the most beautiful wind chimes I had ever seen.

Glistening crystals dripped from glass strings. Silver and blue butterflies hung on invisible lines, their wings moving gracefully in the breeze, the sounds of the metal hitting the clapper a sweet noise. I gasped when I realized there was more than one set. Jesse had some on his side as well. Gold and green sang out in beautiful harmony.

“I will cover this house and these trees with them. You can have anything you want, Casey. All you have to do is ask.”

A memory stirred, long forgotten. Lou in front of me, holding a small pile of fur. Pink and fluffy, the fake rabbit was adorable. But I wasn’t allowed to have it. Mom had said no. But Lou held it out. “It’s for you. All you have to do is ask.”