He reached over and took her hand. You do And I want to be the one to remind you every single dry”
He brought her back to her apartment where he tidied his bed and mad some rea for her. He stayed behind to, cleaning the kitchen and tending to her cat, felt right, it felt like it was how it was always meant to be.
Later that afternoon, he sat right next to the bed where she lay sleeping. Her face was peaceful, breathing in an even rhythm, her pain temporarily lost
He brushed a strand of hair off her forehead “You scared me. Jen,” he whispered again. “Maybe I just needed to be scared a little bit to stop being scared mysett
The love that had an odd way for both of them as there were wound. There were shadows but there were lights fou
And because of all these things, they surely knew that one day, amid the pain, the fears, and the what–is, they were going to be traveling down the road together as they had finally a.ossed over
Hand in hand. Ready to begin again. Together
Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out!
Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Sunlight washing through the half–drawn stains, creating a dreamy golden parch in Jennifer’s bedroom. Alongside this was the scent of warmtew and fresh toast. Byron stood at the doorway with a tray. He had on that same clothes he were yesterday, but somehow it did not seem to bother him. His bale was a little messy, and underneath his eye mere faint shadanos. He had not slept very much
In bed, Jenner was proppedup, a pillow held behind her back, the arm still hanging in a sling Alittle throbbing sensation at the head still existed, but not as bad as yesterday. There was a rigging unile in the corners of her lips when she saw Byson..
“You need not have made berakfast,” she said softly.
“I know,” he said, moving the distance testards her. “Tutaedto”
He gently par the tray en het lap without disturbing het injuries. Toast, scrambled, and a cup of chamomile tea were there
“Thanks,” the mumbled, volce slightly shaking “For everything
He pulls the chair closer andsits beside her. “You don’t have to thank me, Jam hate because I want to be!
She picked up a piece of font, appetite was not strong. She took a small bite and chewed slowly. Byron watched her quietly now, waiting. He sensed there was something to be said by her
After a moment, Jennifer placed the toast back onto the plate. She looked at him
have been thinking a lot,” she said. “Expecially after the accident”
Byren leaned just a little closer. “Yeah?”””
She nodded. “That rated me. Not just getting hurt. It made me realize how very easily can change, how fast everything can be taken away.”
I stayed quier and let her speak
“I could have died that day,” she continued, her voice shaking with emotion. “And all apt thinking about while I was in the hospital was you,”
Baron’s almost skipped a beat.
would remember your face when you first saw me. You looked to scared. Like I was the most important thing in the world to you.”
“You are.” he said th
jennifer took a deep breath. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Byron. I need all you something 1 should’ve told you a long time ago, but I was afraid.”
He reached for her, placing his hand on her….
ou have always been there,” she said. “When fell apart after Devlin, when 1et all code in myself, and when I wanted to just disappear–you stayed. Even when I pushed you any. Even when I believed I didn’t deserve anything good, you never left.”
Byron gently squeezed her hand.
“You were my light,” she whispered “In all that darkness. You were the only thing that made sense when everything she was falling apart.
Teams scaded down her cheeks and she didnot care to wipe them of
prying coince myself that you deserve somebody better. Without scars or baggage. Somewhat schol. But the truth b… [ want to go on pretending then don’t.”
hat whole. But the truth i
love you, Byron. love you so much that. And I don’t
Dyson stared at hei mamentarily nonsensically. His face softenedslowly. Emation pooled in his eyes.
Jen. I’ve been waiting to bear those words for so long”
Ashaky laugh escaped her lips, and that’s when the tears came pouring out. I guess I took my sweet time.”
He leaned ingerly brash the tear on her cheek away with his thumb. “You were worth the wait.”
“Well, I know I am not perfect,” she said. “I am still repairing this broken soul. Ammatill having bad days”
“Sodo 1,” be replied. “But love in about being perfect. Love is choosing each other even during diffingix days.”
Jennifer looked on its eyes, searching for the smallest glimmer of doubt, but there was none.
“Then choose me,” she said, a whisper that barely left her mouth.
already have,” he replied, his walce chick with emotions. “Everyday Every moment. I choose you.”
The two of the held each other’s gaze in silence for awhile. I felt itself was captured, wothing else matted. And the first time a long time, Jenner felt as though
The remainder of the day trickled painfully slowly; Byron had remained with her, reading aloud from one of her cherished novels. They laughed in the tight spots, penunted about books, songs, and chaidhood, with all silly pretenses let abandoned between them Walls, what wall? Wal what?
A point in their conversation, Jude doued off d–sentence with her head resting ever angently una pillow. Byron gazed down smilingly, tucking the blanket about her. He planteda pride kiss on her fourhead, whispering. “I love you ”
Jenoides stirred slightly in het sleep as if in acknowledgment of his words, and a faint umide appearedon her lips.
Byron had been cooking deer that night while Jennifer Laylated on the couch. He moved and her kashen with the famillarity of one at home, and, in fact, he felt at home. T cat was curled up against his text, probably aware he had become family
They munched then dinner on the couch, hier leadiraling againit ba shaukker.
“Do you under keten we tuumal” persiles asked.
Byron chuckled. “You mean when you spilled the coffee on my shirt?”
“İya so embarrassed,” the wid, laughing. “You looked so annoyed.”
“But only for the ten seconds then I noticed your eyes.”
“Wow.” Brindlet smiled. “I never imagined we could be beta.”
“Me dither,” he said. “But I’m glad we kir.”
She ubilted her gazetolilm. “I want to do this right, Byron. I was to build something with you Something real.”
“”“Touch” be correctedher “Every unde, every tear, every moment, we have been building this than the start.
Her hand tested against the center of his chest, right over his heart always thought I had to be strong That needing anyone on anything would equal weakness in my
Chapter 20
“Love is strength. The strongest thing there is,” he replied.”
nodded, warmth filling her eyes. “Tready to be strong for you now.”
With that, Byron leaned in and kissed her, slow and gentle, purting all his feelings into that one moment. And when they pulled away, neither of them doubted for a second
They had found something rare
Something worth fighting for.
Something worth holding onts
Later that night, Jennifer dressed for bed and stared at her image in the mirror. The bruises on her face were still evident. The bandage on her head reminded her of the pain she had gone through. But behind those physical injuries, she rather smr something else light. Hope Love.
Walking back into the boom where Byron was futting the pillows as if he had done it over a hundred times before.
“Are you coming to bed?” Jossier asked.
He’d look at her and smile. “Only if I get to stay.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” she said.
Healed into bed beside her and an arm wrapped around her shoulders in a gentle embrace.
“Goodnight, Jen,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head
“Goodsight, Byron.”
And as they drifted off to sleep, hearts full and hands intertwined, Jennifer
