“She’s been giving me shit for years about my life choices. I’ve let her do it because I never wanted to have the argument. I could tell as soon as I mentioned my mother to you in the driveway that she’d done something. I confronted her about it when I went inside. She told me that she was trying to save me from another dumb choice and I just lost it. I told her she wasn’t welcome in my house anymore,” Jim said.
Elle said, “Wow. I’m sorry to cause so much shit with your family.”
“Not you, honey. It was her,” he said.
“I’m still sorry,” Elle said.
Nodding, he looked at her soberly and said, “I’d like to discuss something else with you, too. I’d really like a hug first, though.”
Elle scooted closer to him on the couch and said, “That would be nice.”
She sighed and closed her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. Sliding hers around his waist, she heard him say, “You scared the shit out of me when you just left like that.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t be there. I didn’t know
how else to express it without having a breakdown in your driveway.”
“I know, baby,” he said. “You still scared me, though.”
As they pulled back from the hug, Jim’s eyes zeroed in on the wine glasses. Looking at her sharply he asked, “That’s not—”
“Easy, tiger. That’s cranberry juice in mine. I would never do that.”
“Okay,” he said, relief evident in his voice. “Just checking.”
Elle looked up at him and asked, “What was the other thing you wanted to discuss?”
“Us,” he said.
“You’re right. We should probably talk about that.”
“Elle, I love you,” Jim said without any preamble. “I’ve been in love with you since that night in my office. Maybe before then. If you don’t return the feeling, I understand. I just want you to know that I love you and you’re it for me.”
Feeling absolutely swamped with relief, her eyes filled with tears.
Jim stared at her helplessly for a moment before he said, “Please don’t do that.”
“No, no. These are happy,” she said, wiping away a stray tear that rolled down her cheek. “I love you too. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you. I was so scared that you’d give me this pitying look or do something like politely thank me.”
Jim took her face in his hands and gave her a long, searing kiss that left them both breathless. Leaning his forehead against hers, he said, “There was never any chance of that. I love you. I’ve been yours for months now.”
“I love you too. I’m sorry it took me so long to catch up.” Elle said on a watery sigh.
Shaking his head, he gestured between them and said, “This is all that matters.”
Elle’s voice was shaky with emotion when she said, “I don’t even have the words to adequately describe how much I love you.”
Jim leaned in to kiss her again, then suddenly asked, “Where are Sara and Deacon?”
“Hiding, I think,” Elle said, smiling.
“Oh jeez. Let’s go. We can finish our conversation elsewhere,” Jim said.
Elle stood up and walked toward the door. Jim followed suit, shouting, “You can stop hiding now. We’re leaving.”
Jim wrapped his arm around her on the way to the elevator and asked, “My place or yours?”
“Well, once I move my stuff in, technically it would be our place, right?” Elle asked.