“Ahh, there it is,” Jack said.
“You’re only twenty-one. Maybe…take a beat before you go making big life decisions with your girlfriend in mind. This is the time of your life when I encourage you to be selfish.”
“I don’t know if I can, Dad,” he said. “Not because I don’twantto be, but because I don’t knowhow.”
“I know, son,” his dad said. “That’s one of our favorite things about you. You’ve got some time. All I’m asking is that you make sure you and your career are your number one priority.”
Jack hummed noncommittally and ended the call with his father not long after.
Jack didn’t have a selfish bone in his body. When it came time to disburse personality traits to the DeLuca sons, Josh took the lion’s share of that one. But in that moment, Jack tried, he really did, to envision what he wanted his future to look like, and what decisions he would make to get there.
The only problem was, there wasn’t a single version of his future Jack could imagine that didn't have Jessica in it.
NOW: February 14, 2024
Valentine’s Day also happenedto be Jack’s birthday, and while he had been vehement in his insistence that the day be abouttheminstead ofhim, Jessica couldn’t help planning something a little extra special.
This was, after all,Jack. The man who made her feel like the most precious thing he’d ever laid eyes on. And for once, he deserved to be spoiled.
The original plan had been a quiet night at his place, ordering takeout and curling up together with a movie, then seeing where the night took them. But Jessica had other ideas.
“We’re going out tonight,” she said when he called her that morning.
It was a Wednesday, so he was just walking out of morning skate, and the locker room was boisterous in the background.
“I don’t want to go out,” Jack whined, and Jessica giggled.
“Why not? It’s your birthday.”
“That’s exactly why,” he protested. “It’s my birthday, and I don’t want to share you with anyone else.”
Jessica’s toes curled in her boots at the promise in those words. They hadn’t yet broached the subject of adding sex to their relationship—though it wouldn’t be their first time. Somehow, unspoken, they’d decided to wait for the right time. And Jessica knew without a doubt that tonight was that time.
“I don’t want to share you, either,” she said quietly. “But I made reservations, so we’re going out, and that’s the end of it.”
“Fine,” Jack said. “But don’t be surprised when I up the ante.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked. “Don’t go doing anything crazy!”
“Me? Crazy? Never,” Jack said sarcastically. “Bye, sunshine.”
Before Jessica could protest or prod him further about whatever scheme he was cooking up, he ended the call, and she was left thinking that, even though she wanted to celebrate him tonight, her plans would pale in comparison to Jack’s.
That evening, they walked into Troppo, a local Lansing restaurant not too far from campus. In deference to the holiday, the restaurant had decorated tastefully, with red cloth napkins where they usually favored black, and vases with red, pink, and white roses on each of the tables. The board at the hostess stand boasted signature cocktails for the evening, as well as a steak special.
“That’s what I’m getting,” Jack said, pointing at the special.
“You can get whatever you want, big guy,” she said, patting him on the chest.
Before she could pull away, he captured her hand and held it to his body.
“I already have everything I want,” he said.
As her insides melted, Jessica said, “When did you become such a romantic?”
“I’ve always been a romantic, sunshine,” he said. “At least, with you I have. Don’t you remember our first date?”
How could she forget? A Mexican sunset cruise followed by a delicious fresh seafood dinner and dancing on the beach under the stars? It had been magical—if she forgot about the part where she’d ruined it all.
