I’ve had a lot of happy moments in my life, but I think Jackson announcing his love for me, in front of an auditorium full of children, takes top billing. What Jackson doesn’t know is that I talked to Steph last night. And she told me everything.
She told me about the lukewarm-at-best relationship that Jackson and Lacy had, even in their prime. She told me that Jackson proposed because Lacy pushed him to do it. She told me that Jackson broke it off when he found out Lacy was cheating on him with some photographer who had promised her a modeling career. She told me how much Jackson despises Lacy now. About Lacy surprising Jackson in Philly, and the conversation Steph had with Jackson that next day right before the press interviews. She told me about Jackson coming home to find Lacy in his condo and how he called security. How sad he was when I didn’t come to his game. How Henry told Jackson about me running out of his building crying, and how devastated Jackson was when he realized what happened. How desperate he was to talk to me.
What she didn’t tell me was that Jackson is in love with me.
Jackson still has me by the hand, and he’s leading me toward the dumpsters at the back of the parking lot.
“Um, Jackson, where are we going?”
“Home.”
Then, as we round the dumpsters, I see his vehicle.
He leads me to the passenger side, opens the door, then shuts it again without letting me inside. “I know I have a lot to explain. But you need to know that everything I said in there was true. Every word. I don’t want anything to do with Lacy. Even if I’d never met you, I’d want nothing to do with that woman. But I have met you. And – no matter who else is in this world – you’re the woman I want. I love you, Kitten.”
I place my hands on his chest, trying to calm his worry. “I know. Jackson, I know all of it. And I’m sorry.”
“Kitten, you don’t—”
I cut him off. “Yes, I do. I’m sorry for not trusting you. For not giving you the benefit of the doubt and for not hearing you out.” He’s shaking his head, but I keep talking. “These last few days have been truly awful for both of us. There are things we both should’ve done differently, but it’s over now. And before we talk more, can we please get in the car? It smells like garbage over here.”
Jackson laughs. “I didn’t want you to see my car and leave. So I hid it. Behind garbage.”
“Clever boy. But I wouldn’t have run.”
Jackson leans down and kisses me, gently this time.
Too soon, he’s pulling away, but the look in his eyes has changed. Before they were full of softness and love. Now they’re full of heat.
“I need to take you home. Now.”
