He hesitates. “I’m listening.”
“First, we bought a business. Me, Maggie, and Riley.”
“That’s amazing, Sloane. Congratulations.” I can hear the happiness in his voice.
“It’s in Silver Valley.”
Silence.
I look at my girls, slightly panicked, but they urge me on.
“Did I hear you correctly?” he asks.
“It’s a gift shop and coffee house. It’s perfect and it’s ours and I’m moving there.” The words are tumbling out now, unstoppable. “I’m moving to Silver Valley. I’m going to live there and run this business with my sister and my best friend, and I’m terrified but also really excited, and …”
“Sloane,” he interrupts gently. “Breathe.”
I take a breath. “Sorry. I’m rambling.”
“You’re cute when you ramble. Keep going.” He chuckles.
“I miss you,” I blurt out. “I miss you so much. I’ve been texting you about chickens for weeks because I’m too scared to say anything real, but the truth is I think about you constantly. Every Christmas decoration reminds me of you. Every Christmas movie makes me think about watching them with you. Every time it snows, I remember the cabin and how safe I felt with you and how you made me feel seen for the first time in years.”
“Sloane …”
“I’m not done. I need to say this before I lose my nerve or sober up or both.” I take another shaky breath. “I was scared. I am scared. Terrified. Because I got out of a nine-year relationship where I lost myself completely, and I swore Iwouldn’t do that again. Then I realized, with you, I’m not losing myself. I’m finding myself. You don’t make me smaller. You make me braver.”
Riley and Maggie are both watching me with tears in their eyes.
“And I know it hasn’t been long. I know we barely know each other. I know this is fast and crazy. But I also know that I haven’t felt this sure about anything in my entire life. And if I don’t at least try, if I don’t take this chance, I’m going to regret it forever.”
“Are you done?” Jax asks, and his voice sounds rough. Emotional.
“Almost. One more thing.” I close my eyes. “I’m falling in love with you. No, that’s not right. I’m not falling. I’ve already fallen. I’m in love with you, Jax Reid. And I’m sorry it took me so long to be brave enough to say it, and I’m sorry I’m drunk right now, and this probably isn’t how you wanted to hear this but I just ... I needed you to know.” The silence on the other end stretches so long I think he might have hung up. I’ve said too much. He doesn’t love me. “Jax?”
“I’m here.” His voice is thick. “Jesus, Sloane. You can’t just ... you can’t say things like that and expect me to be coherent.”
“Oh.” Panic laces my body. He doesn’t love me.
I hear him take a breath. “I’m in love with you, too. I have been since the cabin. And I’ve been going insane trying to give you space when all I wanted was to drive to Denver and tell you exactly how I feel.”
Tears are streaming down my face now. “Really?”
“Yes, really. I can’t believe you’re moving here?”
“We close on the business right after Christmas. I’ll be there by New Year’s.”
“That’s ...” He laughs, and it sounds almost disbelieving. “That’s the best Christmas present I could ask for.”
“I wanted to tell you in person. This is not how I planned this conversation.” I chuckle.
“I don’t care. I’m glad we’re having it.” He pauses. “Are you going to remember this conversation tomorrow?”
“Probably? Maybe? I don’t know. I’m pretty drunk.”
“Then I’m going to tell you again when you’re sober. And you’re going to tell me again, too. And we’re going to do this right,” he tells me.
“Okay.”
