Romance with Mr. Grumpy Pants: A Witty, Opposites Attract, Enemies to Lovers, Next Door Neighbor, Sw

25. Jessica

It doesn’t make any sense.

Why did he think he could just leave us high and dry like that? Did he really think that it was okay for me to find out through some random blog? Did I not deserve a conversation?

Swiping my palms down my face, I let out a labored grunt. I haven’t cried like this since I lost Liam, but at least those tears were for a man who thought I was worthy enough to commit to.

Why am I even so mad? We’re just friends, right? Yet here I am, sprawled on the cold tiles of my kitchen floor with a pounding headache from crying so much.

This man is not good for my soul.

It’s a relief that Lily isn’t home. I couldn’t bear her seeing me like this. Not again.

I clench my jaw and rise from the floor, my head nodding with determination, but the sudden head rush makes me grip the sink for dear life. I don’t feel good at all.

My eyes dart to the digital clock on the screen of the microwave, and I purse my lips in frustration. Lily will be home soon.

Get it together, Jessica!

The thought of going upstairs to shower crosses my mind, but I know that if I pour water over myself in this state, it will only intensify my emotions.

Instead, my feet stay planted by the sink, so I settle for running the faucet. The water is icy as it streams through my fingers, and even colder as I splash it on my face, sending a refreshing jolt through my veins. I rest my elbows on the edge of the sink, anchoring me as my eyes catch my reflection in the window. I inhale and exhale in slow, steady intervals.

Ugh!A knock on my door disrupts my attempt at calming myself down. I really can’t do visitors right now.

Reaching for my purse on the kitchen island where I dumped it after walking in, my fingers fidget around inside trying to find my handkerchief so I can pat my face dry.

The knock comes again.

“Jessica, are you in there?”

The voice is so familiar that it’s as if I’d known it for years, the gentle baritone lightened by the apprehension that laced his words.

My breath hitches, and it feels like my world is at a standstill. I want to run to the door and pull him into my arms, but at the same time, I want to remain in this spot until he leaves me alone.

Knock…knock…knock.

“Jessica, open up, please.”

My feet have gone rogue, leading me in a beeline straight to the front door to fulfill their own mission.

I pause, my fingers trembling as they rest on the door handle. I take one last deep breath before finally opening the door.

There he stands, regret etched all over his face. I detest how effortlessly good-looking he is.

Snap out of it, Jessica.

“What do you want?”

“To talk,” he mumbles softly.

“Don’t you think it’s too late for that?”

“Maybe, but I’m here, and so are you. I need to set things right…if you’ll let me…please.”

There’s absolutely no chance I can slam this door in his face, but that’s all my inner bratty toddler wants to do. Let’s face it, with these heightened emotions, anything he says will activate a cascade of waterfalls down my cheeks.

On the other hand, he could probably spout the most ridiculous nonsense at this very moment, and I’d be all ears entertaining it because I’m scattered.

This lump in my throat is harder to swallow than I expected, making it trickier for me to stay strong-minded.

“Fine then.”

“Can I come in?”

No.

Not answering him, my hands remain fastened on the doorknob, my feet rooted on the ground.

His eyes search mine for any sign of forgiveness. “Okay, fair.”

He looks different than usual, less confident with relaxed shoulders and his head lowered.

Sighing, he begins, “I’m sorry, Jessica. I’m sorry for not telling you a lot of things.”

“A lot of things?”

“Yes, and that changes now.”

My arms grow weary. I desperately try to wrap my head around anything he says. Releasing my grip on the doorknob, I fold my arms, shifting my weight from one leg to the other.

“So. It’s true that the band was scouted by one of the biggest record agencies in New York, and we’ll be heading back there by the end of the week.”

There it is. A thousand daggers pierce my heart one by one and all I can do is brace myself for more.

“I didn’t want you to find out the way you did. I was gonna talk to you, even though I knew there was a possibility you’d find out before I had the chance to.”

“So, what stopped you from doing that when I came over?”

“I was scared of your reaction then as much as I’m scared about your reaction now. The decision was hard to make, and even now, my mind still isn’t at ease about it.”

Raising an eyebrow, I prompt, “So what? You no longer want to be a star?”

“Not as much as I want to be with you.”

A gasp escapes my lips as he reaches for my hands. His words come swiftly and smoothly, catching me off guard. “What exactly are you saying?”

His longing gaze slowly crumbles my walls. “I’m saying that I’m in love with you, Jess. And I should have said that a while ago. This deal wouldn’t have even happened without you. You pulled me out of my rut. You...you inspire me.”

“Then why? Why won’t you stay?”

“Because the band needs this, and they’re like a family to me. I can’t afford to make a selfish decision on a matter that concerns all of us, not this time. And I can’t leave the band because I don’t know what I would be without them…without music. I don’t know how to make all this work. I don’t want to lose you.”

You won’t.

The words are in my head but not on my tongue, not when I’m even more confused about where I stand. I completely understand him, but it’s apparent that he’s at a crossroads, and I can’t ask him to leave his team, his family for me. I don’t want him to.

“So, what are we gonna do now?”

He pauses, his lips parting as if he wants to get something off his chest, but then he stops and averts his gaze. He lets go of my hand and runs his fingers through his hair. Stepping back, he begins pacing the porch. “I don’t…I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.” My accusatory tone stops him in his tracks, and he turns back toward me.

I can”t explain it, but a part of me feels like I know what”s on his mind—perhaps because it’s our only option. It”s an option I’m more than willing to take if he’ll just ask me already.

“What do we do now, Brian?” I prompt again.

He sees it in my eyes. I can tell by the soft smile tugging at the corners of his perfect lips, and now I’m smiling, too.

“Will you come with me…to New York?”

Even though I expected it, the question still makes my heart flutter.

“Yes, Brian. Took you long enough to ask,” I tease.

He chuckles, his confidence slowly building back up.

“But let’s be clear about one thing. If this is gonna work, you need to be open and honest with me from now on, Brian. You think you can handle that?”

“I won’t mess this up again, Jess. You’re the best thing that has happened to me.”

Good. I will follow you to every corner of this earth because—

“I love you.”

The words taste sweet on my tongue, and passion surges through me as his arms wrap around me, lifting me off the ground. A surprised squeak escapes my lips as I grab his shoulders tightly. He spins me around before gently placing me back on the ground.

We stand there, the silence so thick you can hear my heart pounding in my chest. Then I see it in his eyes, as bright as day—desire, the same kind that burns through my veins.

He leans closer, and I close my eyes. His soft breath dances around my lips, and I tilt my head, anticipation electrifying the air between us.

“Mom!”

My eyes pop open, shifting past him to find Lily’s entire upper body in the window of the school bus as it pulls in front of the house. The schoolmates erupt in forbidden ‘ooh’s’ and ‘ahhs’ as they gape at us from a distance.

Lily’s eyes are filled with delight as she steps off the bus and runs to us.

“Celebrity school?” She asks.

I chuckle before nodding. “Celebrity school.”

My attention shifts back to the wonderful man I am now going to spend the rest of my life with, and it feels absolutely right. My heart swells with warmth and yearning as I imagine our future together, filled with shared dreams and tender moments. Every doubt fades away, replaced by a profound certainty that he’s the one I want by my side…forever.

The End