I tuck her under the covers before crawling in next to her.
We sit in silence for a few minutes before she whispers, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
It’s crazy to me that for years, I thought that even if Jo apologized, it wouldn’t matter. I’ve envisioned hearing her say those words and me telling her to fuck off. It’s lived rent-free in my mind.
But now, having her actually utter the words doesn’t bring me any sort of satisfaction. Now, all of that is in the past.
I never thought I’d get here, but here we are.
“Jo, it’s in the past. You’re here now. That’s all I care about.”
“You’re too good to me.”
She lifts her head to look at me. “Are we really going to do this thing?”
“This thing?”
“Yeah, between us. This relationship thing. I mean, that’s what you want, right?”
I smile. “Yeah, I would like that. I’ve waited for that for longer than you know. But the real question is doyouwant it?”
She nods. “You know that thing you said the other night? Thatbigthing?”
“About how I love you?”
“Yeah. That.”
“Yes, I remember.”
She works her bottom lip between her teeth. “I don’t want to say it back. No! Wait! That’s not what I mean.” She pauses a moment to gather her thoughts. “I don’t want to say it backyet.Beau, I’ve said those three words a lot, but I’ve never meant them. I’ve said them to please someone else or try to convince myself that something was real. It’s always been an act. I don’t want to do that with you. When I say it to you, I want it because I truly mean it. I don’t want this to be fake. I’m not sure I know what love feels like, and I think I need to figure it out.”
I’ve always known Jo had a softer side. Most people never got to see it because she wouldn’t let them, but I knew what was truly in her heart. Now, she seems to have softened more than ever before.
Pulling her close, I press my lips to hers. “Okay, beautiful. I’ll follow your lead.”
She puts her head back on my chest and gets comfortable. “Do you want me to stay the night?”
“If you think you’re leaving, you’re going to have a fight on your hands,” I joke.
“I have to warn you. I’ll probably be up in a few hours. I never sleep all night…or very rarely anyway.”
“If you wake up, I’ll wake up with you,” I say with a kiss on top of her head.
She mumbles a few more incoherent things before I feel her breathing even out.
And as I drift off right behind her, I can’t help feeling like the luckiest man in the world.
Chapter thirty-three
A Sexy Clark Kent
Jo
When I wake up the next morning, I’m lying like a starfish in the middle of Beau’s bed. I instantly know I’m alone. Even being as small as I am, I would feel his large body next to mine.
After having a big stretch, I roll out of bed. I make a quick trip to the bathroom before heading to find Beau.
When I do, he’s in the kitchen, standing at the stove. I don’t even notice what he’s cooking because I’m too busy staring at him. He wears grey sweatpants with nothing else. His hair ispushed back and is slightly damp like he just got out of the shower.
