Someone in the back of the room shouts, “One thousand dollars for Jameson Wahlberg!”
I chuckle awkwardly. “Uh, I’m not up for auction.”
“Five thousand dollars!” Another woman shouts.
“Six thousand!” A guy yells, making everyone laugh.
“No, seriously. I’m not part of the auction, and I just laid my heart out here. I’m not going out with someone else,” I say.
“Ten thousand!”
“Come on, Wahlberg! I’ll make it worth your time.”
Jesus. This is proving why I didn’t want Audrey to experience my life. I basically just told the love of my life that I’m nothing without her, and multiple women are getting in line. Who does that?
Before I can say anything, Audrey stands, still gripping my journal. Her face serious, she holds up one of the bidding paddles from the table.
Everyone waits, on bated breath, as she smiles.
“One hundred thousand dollars.”
I smile so hard my lips might rip open. Thank fuck. This has to mean she forgives me.
I point to her. “Sold.”
Jumping off the stage, I’m in front of Audrey in two strides, and crash my lips to hers. It’s like coming home. Her arms sneak around my waist, her hands tight against my back, and I shudder against her. I can’t hold her close enough. Reaching down, I put an arm around her ass, lifting her, laughing as she squeals in shock. I stalk toward the closest door, taking us into a hallway as thunderous applause fills the ballroom.
“Jamie,” she breathes against my lips, and the dam breaks.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I hurt you, and I know I’ll be a dumbass again at some point, but please, let me love you. It’s the only thing in this entire world I want to be good at. You deserve everything, and I swear if you give me another chance, I will spend every day of the rest of our life together proving to you how perfect you are.” I can’t remember the last time I cried. A few years ago, maybe, when we lost in the AFC Championship game. But here I am, close to sobbing, because this woman needs to know how much she means to me.
“You love me?” she whispers, her eyes shining.
“Of course, I do! That’s all you got out of that?”
She laughs, the sound so perfect it makes me cry harder. I press my back against the closest wall, sliding down until I’m on the floor, and Audrey is straddling my lap. She wipes my cheeks with her thumbs. “You know how you said you need my eyes open? That it’s important to you?”
I nod.
“I need to hear the words, Jamie.” Her eyes are full of uncertainty, and I realize how much she’s suffered because of never hearing how important she is.
“Audrey Carrington,” I begin, dragging a lock of hair and tucking it behind her ear, “I am so desperately in love with you. I didn’t know how a relationship could be until meeting you. Until I barfed in your bathroom, and found my perfect match had toiletries categorized alphabetically and in order of height.”
A burst of laughter leaves her lips as more tears fall, and I continue. “I love your heart. How much you do for the animal population of Denver. How supportive you are of me, and how you make me want to be a better man because of you. You deserve the best, Doc. And there’s nothing I want more in life than to prove to you that I can be the man for you.”
“I love you too,” she whispers. “I’ve barely survived this week. Up in the mountains, I could live in denial. Act like you didn’t exist. But when I came home, all I wanted to do was find you and demand answers. I was so heartbroken.”
I rest my forehead against hers, taking a moment to breathe her in. As my body begins to relax, I realize the tension I’ve been carrying the last two weeks. “You’re my home, Doc. You’re everything. I’ve been lost without you. My life isn’t complete unless you’re in it. I need to know you’re here. My safe space. And I want to be that for you.”
Audrey sniffles. “I want all of that. Please. When can we go home?”
I laugh as I kiss her again. “I’m supposed to MC this damn event. I can’t leave yet.”
“Damn. So at least another hour?”
“At least. But you planned this, so you know the schedule better than I do.” I watch as Audrey’s eyes drift off to the side, and I can tell she’s doing math in her head.
“Probably two hours. I’ll need to make sure everyone stays on track. And every minute you aren’t MC-ing the event, I guess that extends the time until we can leave.”
