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Yes, they had been telling the truth at the magistrates. Their vows were better exchanged straight from the heart, baring their souls to each other, craving this closeness between them as the world melted away.
“My soulmate…”
* * *
“Hey,” Jake whispered softly against her shoulder before nipping at it playfully. “If you aren’t awake, then I’m going to wake you up…”
“Then why bother to ask if I’m awake?”
“Out of sheer courtesy,” he chuckled as she rolled over to look at him, seeing his bright, easy smile. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she replied, smiling.
“I missed you.”
“I’ve been right here… and it’s literally been ten minutes since we both agreed we were going to sleep.”
“Ten minutes too long.”
“Seriously?”
“I’m lonely.”
“You’re rambunctious,” she corrected, laughing as she frowned, pretending to be upset but honestly enchanted by this side of him.
“Now, that’s just not fair,” he smirked, his lips twitching. “I wouldn’t call itrambunctiousbut rather…reinvigorated.”
“Uh huh,” she retorted flatly as his hand touched her leg.
“Hi,” he smiled and wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively as Lena burst out laughing at his playful side to him.
“You are a mess.”
“I’m happy.”
“Me too,” she beamed tenderly at him as he moved closer to her, his eyes caressing her as he looked at her once more.
“Hi,” he chuckled huskily, giggling with her as she threw back her head, laughing at him.
“I get it,” she said merrily. “’Hi’is apparently a codeword for you, eh?”
“I just wanted to make sure you knew I was here and waiting for you,” he said tenderly, his eyes taking on a serious nature.
“What?” she asked softly, brushing back his hair from his face. “What are you thinking?”
“Just how much life changes sometimes, so fast. Sometimes, I dream of that bomb going off under the truck and see Max fly past me…”
“Oh, Jake…” she breathed.
“It was so bad,” he whispered openly, confessing and baring his soul to her now that the walls were down between them. “I remember being so afraid that I was dying, that this was how I was going to go, and never imagined that I was actually being gifted my fondest wish…”
“What do you mean?”
“Equivalent exchange,” he hesitated and looked at her warily. “I’m one of those people who doesn’t buy a scratch ticket because I can’t even winanotherfree scratch ticket. I would rather have my dollar in my pocket. When things happen to me? There is usually a toll… almost an exchange that is taken by fate, karma, angels, what-have-you, and I know I shouldn’t think like that but…”
“But what?”
“I can’t help but feel that I gave up my lung, my breath, my ribs… so I could have you,” he whispered, his voice choked with tears. “I know my Bible studies from when I was a boy, and I’m not the most devout Christian, but Idobelieve. I know Adam gave a rib for…”
