I don’t even recognize myself… Get your shit together, Annabelle.
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s go inside.” He picks me up, and I tightly wrap my arms and legs around him as he carries me into the house.
“Upstairs to the right,” I mumble into his neck.
He sits on the large armchair in the corner of the room, keeping me tight against him as I snuggle on his lap.
“Can you explain to me what the hell is going on? There’s something wrong if I’m the voice of reason, Belle. Where’s my strong, confident queen? The one who would have kicked Anna’s ass, not run the other way?”
I shake my head into his chest, too embarrassed to explain and hating the feelings that took over me the other night.
He pushes me to sit and wipes any leftover tears lingering on my cheeks. “Talk to me, Belle.”
I sigh, rather sick of talking about our feelings but knowing they will hang over our heads forever if I don’t explain.
“When I walked up to the house, I saw Anna before I entered and it triggered something I’ve never experienced before… flashbacks.” I pause to regulate my breathing. “That’s never happened to me, Jack. All these memories started to flood my mind, and it was then that I realized something that scared me so much I left…”
Jack rubs my arm in encouragement. “What did you realize, B?”
“If something happened to us, it would break me. If anyone in this world could do it, it would be you, Jackson. Not my dad, not Trey. You’re the only person I care enough about to cause real damage, and it scares me more than anything. I like to be in control of my own life. Insecurities are for the weak, and I pride myself on my strength. I don’t know why I’m letting this suddenly take over, but I’m scared.”
“Annabelle,” he whispers. “I don’t ever want to hurt you, sweetheart. I told you I would have never pursued you if I wasn’t ready, if I wasn’t all in.” He sighs, and I can hear the slight annoyance in his voice. “Do you not trust me?”
“It’s not you, Jack.”I’m the fucked up one. “I’m going to do better. I promise.”
He maneuvers me so I’m facing him straight on. “I will never betray you, B, nor will I ever leave, no matter what happens, as long as you talk to me about it. But, ifyoueverleave me again, I won’t chase you. I know that’s not the romantic gesture you want to hear, but I’ve never held anything back from you. I put it all on the table, and if you choose to run without talking it out or considering my feelings, I’m done. This is it. No turning back, sweetheart.”
Look at Jack sticking up for himself.
“I know.”
I really do.
Because who the hell would continue to put up with this shit?
I wouldn’t.
Wordlessly, he stands and walks us over to the bed, lying me down in the middle, then crawls on top of me, kissing me quickly before pulling back.
“I don’t know when things got so complicated between us, B, but I’m fucking sick of it. Can we please go back to Jackson and Annabelle, the badass dynamic duo?”
Smiling at his sudden enthusiasm, I nod.
“Aren’t you sick of being in your head? I sure as fuck am. I’m done with letting things get in our way… Let’s finally do it with nothing between us.”
I raise a brow. “That sounds similar to the plan we had for after Paris.”
He rolls his eyes and smirks. “What the fuck did we know? This time, we’ll mean it.”
When my smile turns up a notch, he drops down and kisses me hard against the lips.
“Tell me you want me, Belle.”
“Always.”
I have always wanted him.
“Say the words,” he demands.
