“Take your time. Room service should be here soon, and I’ll get it set up for us.” I’ve missed taking care of someone other than myself. It’s filling my soul.
There’s a knock at the door. As I open the door, the aroma of cinnamon waffles and eggs has my mouth watering. I take the tray from the concierge and place everything on the high-top table in the corner. Just as I finish laying all the food out, shewaltzes into the room. She wears a long purple dress that shows off her curvy figure. My eyes rake over her body. When I catch her looking this way, I gesture to the table, but she heads to the nightstand and grabs her phone.
“I’m texting my friends really quick,” she says, her fingers tapping rapidly on the screen as she strides toward the table.
“Are you ready to eat? There’s a variety of food to choose from over here.”
We settle onto the tall stools and inspect the options. After a moment of deliberation, I decide on waffles and eggs. The golden waffle has cinnamon, and I drizzle syrup in all the crevices, creating sweet and savory mouthful with each bite. I look over as she picks a few grapes and slices of cantaloupe from the fruit platter before reaching for a piece of toast.
“Are you feeling better after your shower?” I ask, gently resting my hand over hers and squeezing.
“Yes, it was much needed.” She looks around the room. “Did you clean up?”
“I did,” I admit, nodding. “I want you to feel refreshed after your shower. That includes tidying up your room.” My thumb lightly traces the back of her hand before I let go.
“You were always so thoughtful. Nice to see you haven’t changed in that respect,” she says, her eyes meeting mine with a smile that sends heat coursing through me, and I know this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.
“I know it’s fast and kind of sudden, but I feel like our paths crossed for a reason. We’re having great conversations and reconnecting effortlessly.” I pause and try to read her facial expression. “I was wondering if you’d ever consider giving us another shot, at least a chance to get to know each other again?” I ask, my heart racing out of control. Spending time with her has reminded me of everything I’ve missed, and I don’t think that feeling will ever change.
She leans back, folding her arms with a contemplative look. “I really don’t know. We’re here at a resort, in this perfect bubble away from real life,” she says, her eyes distant. A lot has happened between us, things we’ve never truly talked about, and I know we need to address them. I move my stool closer to her and put my hand on her thigh. She doesn’t move, so I take that as a sign she wants to keep talking.
“This is our chance to figure out if it’s even worth trying.” I gaze into her eyes, so she knows I’m serious about what I’m saying. “My life hasn’t been the same these past twelve years.”
“Jude, I’m still hurting, and seeing you brings back memories of what we shared. It makes it hard to stop thinking about you. What we talked about a couple nights ago, it was a good start, and you know what…” She wrings her hands in front of her as she looks out the balcony doors. The silence is deafening, but then she opens her mouth and whispers, “I’d love to spend more time with you.”
My hand wipes down my face. “Let’s take it one day at a time and see what happens. I think the more time we spend together, we’ll realize we have a lot to share and experience together.”
I reach over and touch her face as my thumbs softly brush her cheeks as I gaze into her eyes, which seem to hold entire oceans within them. “I care about you,” I confess, my voice steady but full of emotion. “And I’ve never stopped. It’s my fault for not finding you sooner.”
With those words hanging in the air, I lean in, closing the space between us, and press my lips firmly against hers. The kiss is hard, electric, and all-consuming as she parts her lips, and I invade her mouth, claiming it, claiming her. She slides her tongue against mine and slides her hands through my hair and holds me tight.
If she keeps this up, I’m going to sweep her off this stool and toss her on the bed. I feel high on life, and nothing can bring me down.
“Wait…” She pushes her fingers to my lips.
TWENTY-FOUR
FAITH
Every time Jude touches me, it sends shivers down my spine and the heat pools in my core. I’ve always pondered the possibilities of us—what if? Now that the chance is staring me right in the face, I’m wary of diving headfirst. But my body wants more of him.
The passion behind his eyes radiates as he raises an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
I sit at the edge of my stool and wonder…is everything okay? Or better yet, is everythinggoingto be okay? It’s like trying to navigate the waters in a storm. Despite years spent studying and practicing therapy, you’d think I’d have a clearer understanding of these emotions. Yet here I am, just another human wrestling with the complexities of life and love.
“I think so.” I’m relieved I said it. “It’s all happening so fast.” The love I have for him that never went away is nearly suffocating. All those nights, fantasizing he’d show up in my life and sweep me off my feet, and here he is—everything I need right now.
As he rubs his chin back and forth with his fingers, he says, “Yeah, it is. I’m surprised you haven’t asked me to leave. Don’t get me wrong, I want to stay. I want to be here with you all day.Yes, it’s fast, but you can’t deny all the feelings that are churning inside and the magnetic pull between us.” He intertwines his fingers with mine. The warmth that fills my body confirms I’m right where I want to be.
“You’re right, I can feel it. I didn’t expect this to happen. Never mind this quickly.” She holds my hand tighter and says, “We can finish breakfast and watch a movie if you want. How does that sound?” Him being here, taking care of me, is all I want today. We’re moving faster than I could have ever imagined, but it feels right.
“That sounds great—let's get you back to bed. I’ll move your food over to the nightstand.” He brings the fruit and toast to the bed as I crawl under the covers and prop myself up.
“Just like old times,” I say. My heart urges me to hold him tight. Spending the morning watching a movie like we used to seems like the best way to keep it low-key this morning.
He clears away the food and dishes before joining me in bed, where I cuddle up to him. I rest my head on Jude’s chest, and he wraps me in his arms and gently strokes my head and down my back. This is my rightful place, savoring the present moment. It’s something I seldom do, but he draws it out of me. His voice soothes me, and his presence eases my mind. It feels wonderfully familiar, like stepping back in time.
I shift slightly to meet his gaze. “If I hadn’t changed my number, things might have turned out differently. I believed I was protecting myself, but in hindsight, it might have been me running away.”
