As the song on the speaker reaches the chorus, Jax picks up his soft humming, pulling me in tighter to him, which I didn’t think was possible.
“This is nice,” he whispers, his lips brushing against my ear.
“You could turn the music up louder, you know.”
“I don’t want to disturb your reading. Besides, it’s late. We can’t risk waking Charlie and sending him into papa bear mode.”
An easy laugh slips from my lips. “You’re being ridiculous. We both know he sleeps like the dead.”
“Yeah, but he seemed off today. It’s not worth the risk.”
I scooch a dozing Bella to the side as I sit up to face Jax. “Do you think he’ll be okay with us being together when he finds out?”
“I don’t know for sure.” He bites his lip. “I hope so. If he isn’t, we’ll get him there.” He kisses my cheek, setting loose a swarm of butterflies in my stomach.
A new song drifts from the speaker, and Jax’s attention shifts from me to the music in the air. “I love this song. It makes me think of you.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, moving in to kiss him. He accepts it, but he quickly draws away from me, slipping off the couch. “You have to listen.”
“You just pulled away from me while I was trying to kiss you!” I drop my mouth open in disbelief.
“Because I’m constantly trying to figure out how to tell you what you mean to me, and all the words that tumble out of my mouth feel utterly worthless every single time. Maybe this song will do a better job than I can.”
He pulls his phone off the table, sitting in the recliner across the room as he starts the song over. “The song is called ‘I Love the Way You Love Me.’ Will you listen this time?”
“I can do that.”
He joins me on the couch again, draping his arm around me. I try not to let his touch distract me, focusing hard on the lyrics as John Michael Montgomery sings about how heloves every little thing about his girl, how she’s managed to get him to start living his life for the little moments, like dancing in the rain, and how he ultimately loves how easily she loves every part of him.
The final soft note of the guitar plays, and one thought runs through my mind:Jax loves me.He may not have said it, but the song did. It fills me with a nervous energy, and the only way I know how to deflect it is with humor, so I turn to him and ask, “Was it the line about the two-hour baths that made you think of me? I’m sorry I stayed in so long that night, but you drew areallynice bath.”
His lips quirk. “Is that all you got from the song?”
“No, I hung on every word.” I cling to his arm. “It’s beautiful, Jax. I want to listen again.”
“I’ll listen to it a hundred times if that’s what makes you happy.”
I’m quickly realizing Jax would go to the ends of the earth for me. With him by my side, I know I’m stronger than everything that’s plagued me over the last several months.
Jax starts the song over then gets up from the recliner, holding out a hand. “Will you dance with me? No fancy swing dancing. I just want to hold you and sway to the music.”
I take his hand in answer. With his hand on my waist and the other lacing our fingers together, I say, “I hope you knowI’ddo anything to make you happy. In fact, I want to tell Charlie about us tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” He looks hesitant, but there’s a spark of hope in his eyes.
“I don’t want you to feel like my dirty little secret. Besides, my best friends know about you and me. It’s only fair your best friend gets to know about us too.”
“This is different.” He glances in the direction of Charlie’s bedroom. “My best friend is also your brother.”
“That’s evenmorereason to tell him. Plus, I feel bad hiding it from him.”
He grimaces. “Me too.”
A combination of excitement and fear swirls in Jax’s eyes as he processes what I just said. Finally, he mutters, “I might need to go home and grab my old cup just to be safe.”
The laughter that escapes me is more like a cackle, and when Jax spins me around unexpectedly, it only grows louder. Bella wakes from her spot dozing on the couch, wagging her tail and letting out a bark of excitement.
“You think that’s funny? You try getting kicked in the balls.” Jax crosses his arms.
