“Why?”
“Because that was the same time I told you about Donald.”
“Oh my God. You think he overheard that as well?”
Jenson shrugs. “Calvin’s an ass. He just wants a story to bolster his career. But I’ve decided I’m going to tell my mom I met Donald. And when you’re okay with it, I’m going to tell her about us.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Hopefully she’ll be able to handle it. I won’t share her secret with anyone because that’s her story to tell. But I can damn sure tell my story to her.” He pauses and tips my chin so we’re staring into each other’s eyes. His expression looks exactly like I feel: excited and hopeful. “Are you ready to tell your parents?” he asks me softly.
I nod. “Something changed when we met Donald. Something important. I’m ready.”
He puts his mouth over mine.
“What do you think they’ll all say?” I whisper into his lips.
Jenson’s hand is rubbing my back in small circles. “It’ll be town gossip until the next big secret comes out. It’ll blow over. These things always do.” His mouth brushes mine again. “We’re not doing anything wrong, Olive. We’ve never done anything wrong. So let’s tell this freaking world of Liberty Falls what we’ve been so afraid of and let them stare at us. I don’t give a shit about any of it. All I want is you.”
My phone lights up with a text. I glance down at the screen. “Daphne says she needs to talk to me tomorrow at the wedding. I wonder what that’s about.”
Jenson shakes his head. “Sheldon said something about her needing to rekindle the magic she and Todd once had.” He furrows his brow. “I don’t remember that magic, do you?”
I wave my hand in the air. “You know the two of them used to do it in the town park at night when no one was around. On the slide or something.”
“Weren’t they in high school then?”
“Yes, but my sister said she sometimes still wants to be eighteen. I get it. She and Todd are having some issues right now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Do you want to get married again?” I say softly.
“I want to get married again if you’ll be the woman standing across from me at the altar,” he says, and my heart melts. “Or the courthouse, or the beach. Wherever we do it. As long as I’m with you, Olivia, I’m exactly where I want to be.”
