I winced when he flicked on the light, irritating the strain in my eyes. I hadn’t taken a good look at myself in a few hours, and my hideous reflection startled me. My cheekbone was a million shades of purple, and a round bump stuck out of my forehead. My fading eye makeup added to the horror, pooling in dark circles under my eyes and streaking down one cheek, thanks to my crying jag a few minutes ago.
“Wait,” Jude said, pushing the door closed behind him and reaching over me to dig into one of the cabinets. He turned on the faucet and ran a stream of water back and forth over a blue washcloth in his hands.
“Come here,” he whispered and wiped my face in gentle strokes. “I’ll get some ice for your forehead, but your cheek doesn’t look too bad.”
“I guess purple is my color.” Trying to sound like myself fell flat as my words came out with no affect whatsoever.
“I’ll wash you up, and you can get into my bed. Do you need something for the pain?”
“I need to go home,” I said, sniffling as Jude dropped the washcloth.
“I can’t take you back to Peyton’s. The doctor said you need someone to watch you—”
“I mean New York City home. This was a mistake.”
He reared back as if I’d just slapped him.
“What do you mean by New York City home?”
“Who the fuck just buys a bar?” The tears strangled my words, but I kept going. “I packed up my life because I wanted to live in thecountry. Be my own boss. I’m an idiot who didn’t think it all through, and I left myself open. I’m not cut out for this, and I don’t belong here.” I dropped my head into my hands. The bump was where all the pain was, but my sore cheek throbbed as I hiccupped more tears.
“You belong withme. Because I love you.”
My head shot up. The tears stalled for a second as I tried to process what I’d just heard.
“W-what?” was all I could push out, my weakened voice nothing but a sandpaper-like rasp.
“I love you. So fucking much.”
He grabbed my face with a gentle hold, but I still felt the quiver of his palms against my cheeks.
“I…” I hiccupped again. Jesus, could I get words out without tears anymore? It was like I’d opened up the floodgates of all my emotions and couldn’t hold anything back.
“I love you. I love every fucking thing about you.” His throat worked before he went on. “I love how you wouldn’t give up on me, even when I gave you every reason to. I love how good you are with my father. I love how beautiful you are, even if it still knocks me on my ass sometimes. I love never knowing what’s going to come out of your mouth next. And I love that big, brave heart that got you here in the first place, and now you’re where you belong.”
“Jude, I—”
“I was scared to tell you because I never expected this. You sped into town and made me love you so much, it’s like I never loved anyone else at all before you, because this—” he waved his finger back and forth between us “—is nothing like anything else. It’s fucking everything. So, you can’t leave, Claudia. Not when I finally got you.”
I stopped crying, but my jaw went slack. My feet were stuck to the bathroom tiles, so overwhelmed by his beautiful words and how much I knew it took for my quiet boyfriend to say them all.
He really did love me.
“Jude, I—”
“I mean it. I’ll handcuff you to the bed if I have to.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Sergeant.” A watery laugh bubbled out of me before I dropped my head into his chest. “I love you too. I’msocrazy in love with you.” I sniffled and lifted my head. “My first time being in love with anyone, believe it or not. So, I had no clue how to say it either. I think that makes you the love of my life, right?”
“Yeah,” he rasped. “I already knew you were mine. You’re supposed to be here, and nothing was a mistake. I know it’s been an awful night, but don’t let this make you doubt that.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“It’s a pretty damn good night right now.”
He smiled and pressed his lips to mine with light, lingering kisses that said so much more than all the passionate ones we fell into so easily. Before buying the bar had even crossed my mind, something had been keeping me here.
Maybe fate hadn’t gotten it so wrong after all.
