“Let me show you to your seat.”
Conner leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “Here’s where I leave you. I’ll be about, but I don’t think you want me cramping your style.”
“What? No, Conner… I don’t want you to—”
“Ma, give the man a chance.”
I looked between Conner and Jax, and at the green space that had been transformed. Solar lanterns and fairy lights hung from the trees. A huge cinema screen sat in front of what looked like inflatable day beds with comfy throws waiting invitingly on them.
Jax took my hand, sending a bolt of electricity down my arm. I’d fought so hard to forget about him, but it hadn’t worked, and his question last week about how I’d felt when I was with him played through my head on repeat.
Alive.
I wanted to feel like that again because for the last five weeks I’d felt… well, I’d not felt much at all. I’d existed, and I’d shown up, but I didn’t feel like myself. But with my hand in his, that surge of excitement raced through me, making my heart leap.
I let him lead me to a bed right in the middle of the setup, and he pointed.
“This is you, Ms Fischer.”
“Er, thanks?” I was so confused about what was going on. “So, I just sit here and watch a movie. On my own.”
Jax took off his sunglasses and folded them over the top of his t-shirt. I swallowed hard because this man was stunning.
When he didn’t say anything, I dropped my purse down and placed my hands on my hips. “Have I done something? I thought we were going on a date. I thought you wanted one more chance.”
He stepped closer, so I had to tilt my head back to look up at him. Cupping my cheek, he ran his thumb over my lips beforewhispering, “If I only get one chance, then I needed time to make sure it was perfect.”
I pressed my hand over his. “I don’t need impressing. I’m just me.”
His brows furrowed. “And that is absolutely why I need to impress you, beautiful, because ‘just you’ is all I’ll ever want.”
Jax lowered his hand, and I missed his touch, but then something caught my eye. I took his fingers in mine, pulling his arm between us so I could get a better look.
“Your tattoo?” I gasped. “Did you get more?” My gaze was transfixed by the gold lines that were now woven between the butterflies, looking like the bowl he’d sent me.
He nodded. “The butterflies were always meant to remind me I wasn’t as ugly as my dad made me feel. The gold is a reminder that even at my most broken, I’m still worth loving; that I’m unique and not a freak.”
A tear rolled down my cheek because this man was incredible, and I was glad he was starting to see it too.
“Hey,” he whispered. “None of that. Now take a seat. It will be getting dark soon and we can start the movie.”
Chapter 40
Helen
I wriggled back in the double daybed, pulling the thick green fleecy comforter over my legs as I peered around at the other beds, which were all full. Before I could look too closely at who else was here, Conner appeared with a glass of something fizzy.
“Champagne, Ma?”
“Thank you. And where did you vanish to?”
“Met a friend. You can meet her another day.” He winked, making me shake my head, slightly surprised because Conner had never intentionally let me meet a girl he was seeing. “Have fun.” And with that, he wandered off to the other side of the field.
I sipped my drink and let my head fall back, watching the sky darken and the stars start to appear, only looking up when I heard the opening song of my favourite film. Bruce Willis had just graced the screen when a familiar amber scent caught my attention as Jax sat down next to me.
“Is this seat taken?”
I laughed quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone. “No.”
