“Well… maybe. But that’s not what I meant.”
“So what did you mean?”
“You were always quiet. Kind and gentle. You never bothered anyone and stuck to your small circle of friends.”
“And now?” I know I’m not the same boy from high school, but I’m curious as to how she sees me.
“You’re strong and confident. Protective. Attentive. You make me feel…seen.”
Because I’ve always seen you.But that’s not what I say.
“You deserve my attention, Princess. You deserveeverything.”
Her breath catches, and she looks away, blinking hard. Her body relaxes, then she nudges her shoulder into mine. “You’re gonna make me cry again.”
“I’ll allow it,” I say with a hushed voice. “As long as you let me hold you while you do.”
Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. “You’re very direct, aren’t you?”
I lean in closer. “I told you I know what I want.”
“And what is that?” she whispers, her breath unsteady.
It’s taken me a long time to get here, but I finally admit the truth I’ve known all along. “You, Jenna. I want you.”
We stayedat the diner far longer than I expected, but unsurprisingly the conversation flowed easily and I couldn’t get enough of her laugh. Life may have handed her a few unexpected twists, but Jenna Howard is still the beautiful, vivacious girl she’s always been.
And tonight only reaffirms to me how much that dumbass of an ex was lucky enough to have her. Bobby has no idea how good he had it—his loss is finally my gain. I left Maple Ridge to try to get over her, but the feelings I’ve had for her never disappeared. Now, I refuse to hide them any longer. I know it’s too soon to act on them, but the moment I know she’s ready to move on, I’m making Jenna Howard mine.
I take the scenic route back to her house, driving along the river while she hums to the music playing on the radio. She stares up at the moon through the passenger window before quietly asking, “Oliver, can I tell you something kind of heavy?”
“Always, Princess. What’s on your mind?”
She swallows, but doesn’t take her eyes off the starry sky. “I didn’t just lose Bobby when my marriage ended. I lost the version of myself I pretended to be.”
I ease my foot off the gas, not stopping, just giving her more time to speak.
“I stayed with him after he cheated because I thought I was supposed to. Because I didn’t want to bethe girl with a failed marriage.” I can see her chewing on the corner of her bottom lip in the reflection of the window. “But if I’m honest, I stopped loving him a long time ago. And I’m not sure he ever loved me at all.”
A heavy silence settles over the car. I’ve always known that idiot didn’t love her, but I’d hoped he did for her sake. I hate that she knows the truth now.
“I didn’t leave,” she whispers. “I couldn’t. I thought staying made me strong. Guess I wasn’t strong enough.” Her voice trembles as she wipes a tear from her cheek.
“Leaving a failed relationship doesn’t make you weak, honey. It takes a lot of strength and courage to admit when something’s over and to walk away. You were being loyal to someone who didn’t deserve it.”
I can see her chin wobble as she pinches her lips together and sniffles. “Yeah, well, my marriage has been over for a long time. It’s just official now, and I’m ready to move on.”
My chest tightens with a mix of emotions.Is she saying what I think she’s saying?
“It’s time you let someone love you the way you’re supposed to be loved. The way you deserve to be loved.”
She doesn’t respond right away. Instead, she watches the scenery change as we cruise through town, the glow of the city lights reflecting in her eyes like she’s seeing something new.
“That’s… a lot,” she murmurs.
“It’s the truth.”
She bites her lip again, staring out over Maple Ridge. “I don’t know how to be loved like that.”
