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Jake gave her a sad smile and held her tight. He didn't say anything, didn't ask anything. He just sat there and held Holly as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks. Now that they had started, she couldn't make them stop.
If Jake judged her for her breakdown, he didn't show it even a little. He just sat there and held her, even as the noise back up by the inn started to fade away. The music stopped and the sounds of the ocean drowned everything out.
Eventually, her tears subsided and she could breathe again. But when she looked into Jake's eyes, her heart clenched. She couldn't keep lying to him. After everything he had done for her, he deserved the truth.
Before she could stop herself, she told him everything, from start to finish. He sat there quickly, taking it all in. Holly was thankful for his silence. If he had interrupted, even to just ask a question, Holly wasn't sure she would have been able to keep going. But, before she knew it, she had laid it all out for him. All of her secrets were out in the open for him to judge her by.
Except, he didn't. He locked eyes with her for another moment and then pulled her tight against him again. His chin rested against her forehead. "When do you have to leave?" Jake asked. His voice was low, quiet and soft.
Holly closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Being in his arms, hearing his voice again, sent her back to high school when he had been the one person she could always count on to comfort her. Even after all those years, she could still count on him, it seemed.
"In a couple of days. I have to testify on Wednesday, but the lawyer wants to talk to me beforehand. So I'll probably have to leave by at least Monday."
Jake nodded. He was quiet for another moment. Then, Holly felt him take a deep breath and let it out slowly. "All right. I'll pack a bag and go with you."
Holly pulled back and stared at him, her mouth gaping open. She blinked a few times, sure that she had misheard him. Comforting her on the beach was one thing, but going back to Miami with her? Not just back to Miami, but going with her to testify against her ex-husband?
Why in the world would he do that?
Jake just gave her a lopsided grin. As if he could read her mind, he shrugged his shoulders. "I was always there for you, Holly. Why would now be any different?"
"Are... are you sure?" More than anything, Holly wanted him there with her. That thought surprised her a bit, and at the same time, she couldn't just ask him to walk away from his life here for a few days, just to keep her company.
Jake reached out and took her hands in his. He squeezed them and kept his eyes locked on hers, not looking away for even a moment. "I told you back then; you would always be able to trust me--that I would always be there for you. And I meant it, Holly. No matter what."
Holly blinked away the tears that threatened to fall again. She nodded and smiled at him, her heart thundering loud enough to drown out everything. He was one of the very few people she knew she could trust completely.
And she was glad he would be at her side again.
