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As I approach, he takes note of the rolling suitcase in my hand.
“Off somewhere?” he asks lightly.
With a trembling hand, I pull the paper with my printed boarding pass out of my back pocket.
“It’s a nonrefundable ticket,” I tell him.
His crystal-blue eyes twinkle. “That’s a major commitment.”
I manage a tiny hopeful half smile. “If the invitation stands, I’d like to come to Sydney with you and meet your mom.”
“What changed your mind?” He pauses, a groove appearing in his forehead. He’s clearly reluctant to go on, but finally he asks, “And what about Nate?”
“I know it took a lot longer than was probably fair, but I figured out what I want. I had all these confusing feelings between the two of you, but my dad was right. We can’t be in love with two people at once.” I exhale in a fast rush. “And I’m in love with you.”
“Is that right?” Jack says, biting back a proud grin.
“I think I was fascinated by the idea of being with Nate,” I admit.
I swallow, trying to find the right words, even though I’d practiced so much of this in the cab ride over. But it’s hard to explain what I feel for Nate. Wild physical attraction aside, I was fascinated by him. Or rather by the idea of who I could be with him. But it was a costume, a part to play in a parody of my life, painting myself into scenes I didn’t belong in. It was no more real than living vicariously through my dad’s long-past exploits.
“Abbs?” Jack prompts when I’m quiet for too long.
I shift my feet, fidget with my boarding pass, because it’s awkward discussing this with him. But I’ve always expected honesty from Jack, and I owe him the same.
“Being my dad’s daughter, I thought I was missing out on something all those years he kept me sheltered. But I’ve realized I’m not that girl.”
Saying it out loud is more cathartic than I expected. But it’s the truth. I’m not that girl. Speeding through the streets on the back of a motorcycle to parts unknown is fun and all, but I like my research and catching a rugby game on a Saturday afternoon. Being tucked away in a library late at night and grabbing a drink at the neighborhood pub. I like sitting at home reading on a rainy day. Watching movies on the couch. Dinner with friends. Simple things. Enjoying the company, not the chaos.
“My biggest fear when I moved here was that I wouldn’t fit in. Wouldn’t find a home. But I have. You make it home.” Emotion clogs my throat. “You screwed up, definitely. But I know it didn’t come from a bad place. I know who you are. And when I’m with you, I know whoIam. I like who I am. I know I’m still young and have a lot more to learn, but I want to learn and grow and do all that stuff withyou. I love you, Jack. I know it took me a while, but if you’re still up for it, you’re the one I— ”
He doesn’t let me finish.
Before I can blink, Jack lifts me off my feet. Strong arms holding me tight, he kisses me deeply, with the same urgency and relief coursing inside me. I wrap my legs around his waist, entirely unbothered by the hundreds of spectators.
I’m wholly at peace with my decision. Absolutely confident that for the first time in months, I know where my heart is leading me.
I pull back to peer into his gorgeous eyes. “According to one of her letters, Josephine’s mom always told her that the heart never leads us astray. I think she was right.”
He ponders that, then flashes that cocky Aussie grin that never fails to make me melt. “I mean, it makes heaps more sense than the heart being a bloody windmill.”
That cracks both of us up. Our hungry kisses becomeintermingled with bursts of laughter, which is our relationship in a nutshell, I suppose. But I love it. I lovehim.
I tear my mouth away again. “I’m sorry I took so long.”
“I would have waited,” Jack whispers against my lips. “As long as it took. You were always worth it.”
APRIL
EPILOGUE
OUR TIME INSYDNEY ENDED TOO QUICKLY. IMEAN, ICOULDdefinitely have done without the enormous bugs that look like they crawled out of some radiation experiment gone horribly wrong, but overall, the city was beautiful, and Jack’s family was wonderful. I had a very long flight to fret about what would happen if Jack’s mom hated me, but from the moment we walked in the door, Traci Campbell was warm and welcoming.
The only snag—once I confessed to being Gunner Bly’s daughter, the conversation took an awkward turn. Traci sent Oliver up to the attic for the box of vintage memorabilia from every single Australian concert or appearance my dad ever did. Turns out Jack’s mom was a superfan back in the day. Obsessed, actually. Charlie made a crack about their mom getting a shot at Gunner, and they proceeded to spend the week teasing us that Jack and I were going to end up stepsiblings if we let her near him.
Needless to say, Charlie isn’t my favorite brother.
It’s good to be back in London, though. For starters, it was nearly impossible to get a second alone while we were staying in a house with Jack’s mom, younger sister, and two of his three brothers. We found out real quick that the walls in the house were too thin to enjoy our new official status as a couple.
