But then he stopped. He was waiting. “Say. It.”
I looked at him—like a goodfuckinggirl—and said it. “I’m yours.”
Who was I even trying to kid? Iwashis. Completely. Even before I knew him, before he was real, before any of this. I had always been his. The second the words left my mouth, that wicked smile spread across his face, and he was back at it. Faster. Deeper.
“Step three…” he murmured against my ear. And then, his lips brushing my skin, he gave me my final instruction. “Let go.”
That was all it took. I bit down on my lip to muffle the moan that threatened to give us away, and my body melted against him, completely unraveling in his hands. He chuckled, low and satisfied, his breath warm against my neck. But he wasn’t done.
“Good girl,” he whispered. His hands traveled up to my waist, fingers pressing hard enough to make me shiver. Slowly, he guided me. “Now, turn around.”
25
JULES
We finally stepped off the plane and were ushered into a massive, luxurious car with windows so tinted it felt like we’d been dropped into a black hole. I pressed my forehead against the glass, trying to make sense of where we were, but there was no point. Instead, my attention shifted to Liam and Nova. They were giggling, throwing each other secretive little glances, clearly in on something I wasn’t.
The little conspirators knew something.
Before I could demand answers, the car slowed to a stop. I stepped out and took in the scene around us. We were standing between two massive warehouses. Near the entrance of one building, stacks of wooden pallets were stacked, and a few people milled around casually chatting. I was confused. Was this what Chris had planned for our big weekend surprise?
“Where are we?” I finally asked.
Chris had already walked ahead, but he turned back, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.
“We’re going to have to take an unconventional route, but trust me—it’s going to be fun.”
Fun? This didn’t look like fun.
The kids were practically bouncing with excitement, and Carol had an expression I couldn’t quite read. She met my questioning look with one of her own, one that said,Trust him.
Oh, great. Now Carol was on Team Chris, too.
Their friendship was refreshing, but it kind of bothered me. She was never nice to my partners. She was blunt, protective, and, honestly, a little savage. She loved it. She lived for roasting my dates and pointing out every single red flag. But with Chris, she was…friendly.They’d been exchanging secretive looks and shared smirks the entire trip like they were in on some inside joke. It was unnerving, and I didn’t like it one bit.
Chris led us down a narrow corridor between the two warehouses, the walls towering high above us. Our footsteps echoed in the tight space, bouncing off the concrete. The anticipation was building, and I hated it. I wasn’t sure if I was annoyed or excited, but my pulse was definitely quicker than normal.
Before we reached the other side, someone stepped into view—a uniformed figure. I froze, my eyes immediately snapping at the logo on their chest. I recognized it instantly, and my breath caught in my throat. The uniform. Oh my God. It belonged to one of the staff members at my favorite amusement park. The one I’d told him about on our first date when I let slip a few pieces of my childhood. The one I’d dreamed about returning to with my kids someday, but could never find the time or, honestly, the courage. And now here we were. It hit me slowly at first, but then it sank in fully, and I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.
He remembered.
At the end of the narrow corridor, I was flooded with color, sound, and comforting memories. Themed buildings, vibrant decorations, whimsical music in the air, and the unmistakable smell of cotton candy and popcorn. It was like I remembered. Kids ran past us with wide eyes and sticky fingers, and their parents trailed behind them with a mix of exhaustion and delight. I felt like I’d stepped straight into my own childhood.
I couldn't even tell why, but somehow—me, the one with sensory issues her whole life—loved amusement parks. It made zero sense. But then again, not much about my brain ever did. Maybe it was because this was the only place I got to actually be a kid, when I couldn't be one at home. So it became my safe place. Loud noises and all.
My children could hardly contain themselves. Nova grabbed Carol’s arm and tugged her toward the window of a nearby shop filled with glittering trinkets and colorful toys. Liam followed close behind, pointing out something to his sister. I stood there, watching them, taking it all in.
Chris stepped closer, and without a word, he took my hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it gently.
“I’m sorry your grandma couldn’t make it. I know how much you two love this park,” he said. My throat tightened at the mention of Nana. He knew how much this place meant to me because of her.
Growing up, I was always the little adult at home, keeping everyone in line—even my parents. But at the park with Nana, I got to be a kid. A silly, carefree kid riding rides until we were dizzy and on the verge of barfing, eating so much junk food we swore we’d never touch it again (until the next time). I wished she were here too, but I knew she couldn’t travel.
I looked up at him, and my fingers trailed down his jaw to his neck, lingering there.
Thank you.
The words wouldn’t come, but I knew he could see it in my eyes. It wasn’t just for today or the park—it was forthis. For seeing me. For remembering. For caring enough to make it happen. The vulnerability of it all made me nervous. I was peeling back a layer I didn’t usually show anyone. But Chris didn’t look away.
