“Let’s start with family.”
I bite my bottom lip and rest my forehead on his shoulder. “Jacob?—”
“Yeah?”
“It’s not just our families we might get backlash from.” I twirl shapes in the sand with my fingertip.
“I know.”
“I don’t know how conservative your boss is, for example.”
“Aren’t you the one who wants to tell everyone? The one who thinks other people’s opinions don’t matter?”
“I was. I am.” I lift my head. “But I’m also a naive idealist. I don’t want to cause trouble for you with your dad or your boss or anyone. And I’ve come to realise that bringing our relationship into the open won’t be as straightforward as I want it to be. I?—”
Jacob pinches my chin gently between his thumb and forefinger and presses his lips to mine. The kiss is almost as intense as the one in the club. It steals my breath and makes my heart go crazy again.
“I love you,” he says.
I touch my lips. “Yep, I’m definitely getting that vibe from you.”
“I want to be with you.”
“I’m getting that vibe too.”
“We can’t do that in secret.”
“No.”
He strokes my cheek. “It might not be easy, but it will be worth it.”
“Are we strong enough to weather the storm?” I whisper, mentally thanking Regan for the metaphor.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
“What if we’re not?”
Jacob kisses my forehead. “What if we are?”
If there were ever words to get tattooed on my skin… An impulsive holiday tattoo is a bad idea.
“We don’t have to say anything untilyou’reready,” Jacob says.
“Areyouready?”
“As I’ll ever be. If I wait until I’m not scared, I’ll never do it.”
“Why now?”
Jacob purses his lips and looks past me. “A lot of reasons. That guy writing his number on your arm. Not being able to enjoy the sunset with you as I’d imagined. Not being able to kiss you or even smile at you whenever I want to. Realising how right being with you feels. Plus, I don’t want to feel like a naughty kid sneaking around all the time. I don’t want to get caught with my pants around my ankles like Dad did.”
“Us being together is completely different to your dad and Mum.”
“Exactly. We’re not doing anything wrong, Archer. Why should we hide?”
I laugh. “Didn’t I say something along those lines ages ago?”
Jacob smiles. “Yes. I’m sorry it took me so long to get on the same page as you.”
