She paused and shrugged. "It doesn’t make sense, but a lot of people lie, especially about love."
I paused and kissed the Back of her hand. "Well, I'm not lying. I was just afraid to tell you."
She pressed herself against my chest. Her warmth radiated through me and I felt the distinct sensation of being home.
"No one else had ever told me they loved me."
I kissed the top of her head and offered a gentle smile. "Glad I could be your first,” I said, trying to keep the mood light.
“This isn’t a joke,” she murmured, her face still buried in my chest.
I cleared my throat and nodded. “Right…Right. Sorry.”
Finally, after a long moment of stressful silence, she looked up at me and sighed. “I love you too.”
I could barely believe what I heard. I hadn’t expected her to return the sentiment. “What?”
“I love you too. Are you deaf?”
A stupid grin spread across my face and I scratched the back of my neck. “I just wasn’t expecting to hear it back.”
I sat on the loveseat that I’d bought after Lena started coming over more. It was the perfect size for the balcony. We eased into the soft cushions and I pulled her close as she tucked her legs underneath her body.
“Well, I do. I love you. I can’t really explain how or why, but you got under my skin and I can’t seem to get you out.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
She shook her head slowly and her fingers tangled in mine. “As long as I know you love me…I think I can do it.”
“Do what?”
She looked at me with a fierce determination. “Go home.”
I wasn’t going to argue. I wanted her to face these demons. I kissed her tenderly and said the only thing that made sense. “I’ll call my pilot and let him know we’re leaving in the morning.”
I didn’t know where we were going. All I knew was that I’d follow her to the ends of the earth.
Bellefontaine. We came over a small hill and I could see the quaint wooden sign that welcomed you to my home town. Just und
er the sign was a little counter that read ‘pop. 789’. It had grown since I’d last been here.
“This place is beautiful,” Jami mused, his eyes wondering the windshield of our rental car.
“It’s pretty to look at, but the charm wears off once you’ve been here a while.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Yeah. Especially when all the old women start walking up and asking you why you aren’t married and asking if you’re sterile since you don’t have kids.”
“Ouch.”
“Small towns are great, until you have to actually live in one,” I sighed, turning to look out the window.
A cool breeze blew through the branches of the blooming trees. Green leaves formed around bright yellow and pink flowers. I’d missed the colors of spring, but not enough to come back. I wanted to handle my business and go back to New York as soon as possible.
We turned onto the dirt that my parent’s house was on and the second the soft earth crunched under the tires, I felt every muscle in my body tense up. I wasn’t ready for this. I didn’t want this. Just as I was about to beg Jami to turn around, I felt a strong hand on my knee. I looked at him, my eyes wide as he squeezed my knee.
“It’s going to be okay. We’re going to get through this as quickly as possible.”