“I know she’s lied to me in the past, but I don’t think she is tonight. She looked scared. Really scared, not like she was faking it. Something happened tonight. Something bad.”
Do I believe him and let it go? I don’t trust Kristen, but I trust Jackson. He tried to kick her out, but his concern for her safety changed his mind. Should I get mad and punish him for that, or believe that he’s doing what he truly feels is right?
“Rumor, just stay,” he says, squeezing my hand. “She’ll be in the guest room. You can pretend she’s not even here.”
I shake my head. “I need to go home. I have my own stuff to figure out.”
He looks me in the eye. “Before you go, I need to finish what I was going to tell you. The reason I had to come see you tonight.”
“To apologize? You already did that.”
“That wasn’t everything. I wanted to tell you something else. But maybe I should wait. This isn’t a good time. I don’t want you thinking I’m only saying this because—”
“Jackson, just tell me. What is it?”
He pauses. “I wanted to tell you that . . .” He looks down, then back up at me. “That I love you.”
Chapter 25
I laugh, although I have no idea why.
“Is that funny?” Jackson says, sounding concerned.
“No.” I hug him.
“Then why are you laughing?”
“I don’t know. I’m exhausted and kind of a mess right now so it’s hard to say.” I pull back. “Or maybe it’s because you make me really happy and because . . .” I pause. “Because I love you too.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! You’re not supposed to question it.”
“You questioned it by laughing,” he says, smiling.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
He looks me in the eye. “I realized after you ran off today how much you mean to me. Seeing you leave made me panic, thinking you might never come back. I realized I might’ve just lost the only person I love. That’s why I had to come find you.”
I reach up and kiss him. “I thought you were going to break up with me.”
“Break up with you?” he says like I’m crazy. “I love you.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t know that an hour ago.” I kiss him again. “I’m going to go.” I smile. “Sorry I laughed.”
“Make it up to me later?”
“If you ever get rid of your roommate,” I say, looking back toward where Kristen went.
“I will. I promise.” He kisses me. “I want this to end as much as you do. Just a little more time, okay?”
I nod.
“You want me to walk you back?”
“No, I’m okay.”
He hugs me, holding me a long time before finally letting me go. “I love you.”
